A fencer is kept safe from a strike by his fencing gear.
You may have seen the short video clip of an Olympic fencing match. You probably noticed the electronic lights that indicated when a fencer had scored a hit, and you also probably noticed that the fencers are masked and clothed in a protective uniform.
Fencers did not always have this equipment. As fencing was a sport derived from combat, the first fencing equipment was primitive sparring gear, and the sport was often dangerous. It was not until the 1982 Olympics when fencer Vladimir Smirnov was killed by a broken blade that punctured his face mask that fencing as a sport got a safety overhall.
Smirnov's death shocked the fencing and Olympic communities.
Smirnov's death showed Olympic and fencing organization officials that both the fencing foil that snapped and the face mask that was pierced needed to be upgraded with modern ballistic materials.
Changes to the mask and body protective equipment initially meant the use of kevlar fiber. Kevlar is still used, but today other modern ballistic fabrics are becoming more popular. Safety standards (for mainstream organizations) saw drastic increases in puncture resistance strength standards for all equipment. The mask and the bib that protect the face and neck were improved the most, with puncture resistance minimums often set at double the rest of the uniform.
Of course, a face mask and uniform are only half of the equation in a puncture. While the tips of dueling swords were dull enough to avoid injury in Smirnov's day, the carbon steel blades were prone to breaking, which naturally leaves a sharp point. Modern blades are instead made out of maraging steel, which is stronger and more flexible than carbon steel.