LAUSANNE, Switz., Nov. 4, 2020—The FIE is saddened to be informed of the passing of Taymi Chappe Valladares. Born on September 11, 1968 in Havana, Cuba, she began her fencing career in that city. In 1990 she became world champion in women’s epee at the Lyon Fencing World Championships representing Cuba. She then began fencing for Spain, and in 1994 received a gold medal at the Athens World Championships in women’s team epee and was first in the World Cup ranking in 1996. She qualified for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and was ranked 17th in individual women’s epee. Ms. Valladares also took the individual women’s epee bronze medal in 1997 at the World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Spanish Fencing Federation stated on Ms. Valladares “endowed with a unique personality, she transmitted her strength to the national team, making it the best women’s team in the history of our sport and one of the best in the world. Her memory will remain in all of us who knew her and admired her passion for fencing”.
On behalf of our world fencing family, we extend deepest sympathy and condolences to Ms. Valladares’ family, teammates and friends; the Spanish Fencing Federation; and the European Fencing Confederation during this difficult time.