News

A Confident Return to Competition

The continuation of the 2025/26 season officially came to life this weekend, as the first international EFC competitions of the new year took place across Europe. From cadet circuits in Central and Southern Europe to senior épée action in Germany, the opening events of 2026 delivered high-level fencing, strong participation, and a clear sense of motivation as athletes returned to the piste after the winter break.

Cadet Épée Circuit in Šamorín

Šamorín hosted the first Cadet Circuit of 2026 in épée, featuring individual and team competitions for both women and men. In the men’s individual event, Ukraine delivered a powerful start to the year as Arsenii Karapysh took gold ahead of his teammate Hryhorii Krasniuk, while the bronze medals went to Hiroaki Toto of France and Wout Van Laecke of Belgium.

In the women’s individual tournament, Italy celebrated victory through Benedetta Bianchi, who won gold ahead of Charlotte Loue of France, with bronze medals claimed by Italy’s Francesca Aina and Ukraine’s Marharyta Ancharska.

Team titles were decided after intense knockout rounds. Hungary claimed gold in the men’s team event thanks to Áron Petrovszki, Jaroslav Ors Kuznyecov, Patrik Dekany and Róbert Vörös, while Ukraine took silver with Arsenii Karapysh, Oleksandr Stabnikov, Maksym Durda and Hryhorii Krasniuk, and Israel secured bronze with Mordechai Milu Lachman, Eitan Efraim Charmatski, Lev Botvinnik and Gilad Yehoda Cohen.

In the women’s team competition, Italy 2 won the title behind Agnese De Caprio, Anita Negroni, Elisabetta Rinaldi and Carola Calogiuri, while Italy earned silver with Francesca Aina, Sofia Quirini, Payam Kumari and Clara De Donno, and Ukraine completed the podium in bronze with Polina Spyrydonova, Yelyzaveta Gorbachuk, Marharyta Ancharska and Sofiia Makhlai-Shemiakina.
Results: https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/173774D6D15144BE9D44E7E5B67D9785#today

Women’s Foil Cadet Circuit in Poznań

Poznań welcomed the women’s foil Cadet Circuit, where Elizaveta Kopyltsova of Cyprus captured gold, followed by Elvin Gulisik of Türkiye in second place, while bronze medals were shared by Eloise Goutenegre of France and Emma Nemeth of Hungary.

In the women’s team event, France took gold with Melisande Bolore, Lilou Gaillardot, Eloise Goutenegre and Pauline Mazille. Poland 1 secured silver through Olga Pisarewicz, Teresa Mos, Danuta Tym and Lena Nowak, while Türkiye earned bronze with Alara Atmaca, Elvin Gulisik, Ada Kufeciler and Nil Kirtay.
Results:https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/B41CD4BB1D134BF58F471C3B7F1B5F8C#today

Cadet Sabre Circuit in Segovia

Segovia hosted cadet sabre competitions for both genders, with individual and team medals decided in a weekend full of speed and intensity. In the men’s individual tournament, Christian Avaltroni of Italy took gold ahead of Arda Takka of Türkiye, while bronze medals went to Tommaso Tallarico of Italy and Bendeguz Fodor of Hungary.

The women’s individual event turned into an all-Italian podium, as Vittoria Fusetti won gold, Anna Torre took silver, and Aurelie Bianca Maria Personi and Diletta Fusetti shared bronze.

In the men’s team competition, Italy 2 won the title through Filippo Landi, Vittorio Pellegatta, Jacopo Sciullo and Costantino Zuffa, with Italy taking silver behind Riccardo Maria Aquili, Pietro Hirsch Butte’, Emanuel Manzo and Tommaso Tallarico, while Türkiye claimed bronze thanks to Barlas Bayram, Candeniz Berrak, Uluc Eke Guven and Arda Takka.

The women’s team title went to Hungary, led by Kincső Bacskay, Linda Decsi, Boglárka Komjathy and Brigitta Racz, while Italy took silver with Diletta Fusetti, Vittoria Fusetti, Matilde Reale and Anna Torre, and Türkiye earned bronze through Isil Betul Elustu, Elif Cinar Kocak, Duru Ayse Ozgonul and Irmak Senoglu.
Results: https://engarde-service.com/tournament/rfee/efc_segovia26

Eurofence League in Berlin

In Berlin, the Eurofence League opened the year for senior épée fencers. In the men’s competition, British fencing celebrated gold through William East, with Mateusz Nycz of Poland taking silver, while France secured both bronze medals thanks to Mathieu Gauvert and Niklas Astrella.

The women’s épée event saw Karolina Charkiewicz of Poland take gold ahead of Andrina Lusti of Switzerland, while bronze medals went to Isabelle Burkhard of Switzerland and Luise Ziegler of Germany.
Results: https://www.fencingworldwide.com/en/32702-2025/tournament/

Looking Ahead

As the first medals of 2026 are awarded and the rhythm of competition returns, these opening events set a positive and confident tone for the months ahead. The European Fencing Confederation congratulates all medalists and participating delegations and looks forward to another year of development, ambition, and high-level fencing across Europe.