Iron Maiden Frontman Bruce Dickinson Places 13th in French Fencing Tournament After Falling to Olympic Gold Medalist

Mar. 15, 2025

Bruce Dickinson visits SiriusXM studios on January 16, 2024 in New York City.Photo:Jason Mendez/Getty

Jason Mendez/Getty

With a flash of the blade,Iron MaidenrockerBruce Dickinsonmade his mark on a recent fencing tournament in France.

The British singer, 66,placed 13thin the Circuit Européen 2025 tournament in Fâches-Thumesnil, which took place from Jan. 18-19. He competed alongside 30 other participants in the prestigious veterans’ competition.

Dickinson, a longtime fencer who in the 1980s trained with the British Olympic squad, won his first match against Danish fencer Simon Jeiner. He ultimately lost to Pascal Jolyot, a French fencer with three Olympic medals, including one gold, under his belt.

“He’s not bad,” Dickinson joked of Jolyot toLa Voix du Nord.

Videosharedto the Instagram fan page Eddie the Head Fan Club shows Dickinson practicing and competing in bright red shoes.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden performs at Spark Arena on September 16, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand.Dave Simpson/WireImage

Dave Simpson/WireImage

The “Run to the Hills” singer toldThe Timesin February 2024 that he fences about four times a week, and has switched from the fast-paced foil fencing to épée, as it’s “more tactical.”

“I’ve found an amazing club in France, full of incredible fencers who all kick my arse,” he told the outlet. “It gives me something to aim for — I want to get to the stage where only 75 percent of them kick my arse!”

Dickinson, whose wife Leana Dolci is French, has several other hobbies aside from music. The star is also a pilot who once worked for Astraeus Airlines, and has his own line of beer with Robinsons Brewery called Trooper.

In 2014, Dickinson wasdiagnosed with throat cancer, but got the all-clear the next year after nearly three dozen radiation sessions and weeks of chemotherapy.

Bruce Dickinson (center) with Iron Maiden.Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty

Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty

The rocker added he was “lucky that I can still sing.”

Iron Maiden, which Dickinson rejoined in 1999 following a brief hiatus, announced theRun For Your Lives World Tourin September.

The stadium, festival and arena tour dates will kick off in May in Budapest and will run through August.

source: people.com