News
Fencing Triumphs Across Continents: European Stars Shine Bright
Competition
This past weekend, fencing enthusiasts witnessed remarkable performances in various corners of the world, from cadet and U23 circuits in Europe to World Cup events showcasing elite fencers.
Cadet Circuit in Grenoble – France
The Cadet Circuit in Grenoble brought together 237 male and 221 female fencers representing 25 nations, making it a prestigious gathering for young talent. The individual men’s épée competition crowned Nathaniel Wimmer (USA) as champion, followed by teammate Geoffrey Yao in second place. Italy’s Francesco Delfino and Great Britain’s Stanley Leech shared bronze medals.
In the women’s individual épée, Avni Shiv and Chloe Tolsma secured gold and silver, respectively. Maria Sonzogni of Italy and Lucia Abajo Salcedo from Spain claimed bronze. Lucia Abajo, daughter of the legendary Spanish fencer José Luis Abajo Gómez, carried on her family’s fencing tradition with grace and determination.
Team events in Grenoble were equally exciting. Among the men’s teams, the USA swept the gold and silver medals, while France secured bronze. For the women, the USA once again dominated, with their teams earning gold and silver, and Italy capturing bronze after an impressive run.
Full results from Grenoble can be found here.
U23 Sabre Circuit in Munich – Germany
Munich hosted the U23 EFC FFE Circuit, delivering electrifying sabre bouts. Germany’s Moritz Schenkel claimed gold in the men’s individual event, with Belgium’s Jurre Devos taking silver. Simon Cacek (CZE) and Peter Krajnc (SLO) earned bronze medals. In the women’s individual sabre, Felice Herbon (GER) emerged victorious, followed by Great Britain’s Bethany Brierley with silver. Bronze medals went to Germany’s Kora Jasmin Hartmann and Marisa Victoria Kurzawa.
In the team events, Great Britain triumphed in the men’s sabre, with Austria and Sweden completing the podium. The German women’s team shone brightly, clinching gold ahead of Great Britain, who took silver after a close final.
Munich also hosted a meeting of the European Fencing Confederation’s Executive Committee (COMEX), led by President Pascal Tesch. Their presence at the finals underscored their dedication to supporting fencing’s development across Europe.
For detailed results from Munich, click here.
World Cup Success for European Fencers
At the World Cup in Tunis, Italy’s Martina Favaretto showcased her remarkable skill and determination, claiming gold in the women’s foil individual event. Favaretto continues to build on her exceptional record, having won silver in the team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Italian men’s foil team, featuring Guillaume Bianchi, Alessio Foconi, Giulio Lombardi, and Filippo Macchi, delivered an equally impressive performance by securing gold in the team competition. This triumph follows their silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, further cementing their place among the world's best.
Results for Tunis can be found here.
In Vancouver, Yuval Freilich of Israel earned a stunning victory in the men’s individual épée competition, demonstrating his exceptional form.
Hungary’s men’s épée team followed suit with a remarkable victory in the team event. The Hungarian squad, consisting of Tibor Andrasfi, Mate Tamas Koch, Gergely Kovacs, and Maruan Osman-Touson, showcased impressive teamwork and resilience, earning them the gold medal. This victory reaffirms Hungary’s dominance in the discipline after their Olympic triumph in the team épée event at Paris 2024.
Results for Vancouver are available here.
This weekend showcased the depth of talent across all levels of fencing. Special congratulations to the European champions for their remarkable achievements and to all fencers who competed with passion and determination.