eurofencing.info | EFC European Fencing Confederation

Tears ran down her face during the medal ceremony. Imke Duplitzer from Germany couldn’t hold back this overwhelming feeling of success. “I had to wait eleven years since my last European championship title in 1999. I hope it won’t last another eleven years for the next success”, she said. 10 days before her 35^thbirthday Duplitzer defeated Magdalena Piekarska from Poland in the final of women’s individual epee competition in Leizig (15:10). She made no doubt that now the old hand fencer is also one of the favorites for the World Fencing Championships in Paris this year.

Her opponent from Poland, silver medalist Magdalena Piekarska,  wasn’t very disappointed: “It’s my first medal, that’s really good and I’m very,very happy!”

The new European champion in men’s individual foil competition is Andrea Baldini. Now he’s European and World champion at the same time: “ After the last hit I was very happy. It’s my third title and it was a very good performance”. The 24 year old student was a little bit sad that he had to win against his team-mate Valerio Aspromonte. “ He did a very good job, it was a very good competition and I’m happy that Valerio will compete in the team competition as well”.

Generally, it was a bad day for Olympic champions – both Britta Heidemann and Benjamin Kleibrink failed early. The defending European champion in women’s epee Heidemann lost the  German duel against Imke Duplitzer in the round of the last 32 (7:8) and was very disappointed: “Of course, I’m very gutted about this match. I knew that it would be very close. And in the Sudden Death Imke Duplitzer made the better decision”.  Benjamin Kleibrink – Olympic champion in men’s foil – also lost in the round of the last 32 fencers against Valerio Aspromonte from Italy (14:15).