LAUSANNE, Switz., March 1-3, 2024 – Two International Fencing Federation World Cups took place in Athens and Padua, as fencers continue to prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Current provisional qualification information for Paris 2024 is available here: https://paris.fie.org/.
Athens, Greece, “Coupe Acropolis” Women’s Sabre World Cup – March 1-3
France’s Sara Balzer won the individual gold medal at the Athens “Coupe Acropolis” Women’s Sabre World Cup, and France won the team gold. The event took place at the Athens Olympic Complex (O.A.K.A.) with 197 individual fencers and 22 teams participating in the competition.
Balzer faced Spain’s Lucia Martin-Portugues in the final bout of women’s individual sabre, winning with a 15-8 score. In the semifinal round, Martin-Portugues won against Ukraine’s four-time world champion Olga Kharlan, 15-14, while Balzer defeated teammate Manon Apithy-Brunet, 15-14. Of note, in the quarterfinals Kharlan beat Japan’s two-time world champion Misaki Emura, 15-8.
In the women’s team sabre event, France faced Ukraine in the final match, winning with a 45-30 score. In the semifinal round, Ukraine won against Bulgaria, 45-34, while France defeated Italy, 45-40. The bronze medal went to Bulgaria over Italy, 45-43.
Final rankings in women’s individual sabre included Sara Balzer (FRA, gold), Lucia Martin-Portugues (ESP, silver), Manon Apithy-Brunet (FRA, bronze), Olga Kharlan (UKR, bronze), Misaki Emura (JPN), Despina Georgiadou (GRE), Sarah Noutcha (FRA) and Michela Battiston (ITA).
Final rankings in women’s team sabre included France (gold), Ukraine (silver), Bulgaria (bronze), Italy, Korea, Spain, Hungary and USA.
Padua, Italy “Trophée Luxardo” Men’s Sabre World Cup – March 1-3
USA’s Colin Heathcock won the individual men’s sabre gold medal at the Padua “Trophee Luxardo” Men’s Sabre World Cup, and Korea won the team gold. The event took place at the Kioene Arena with 235 individual fencers and 24 teams participating in the competition.
Heathcock faced Italy’s Luigi Samele in the final bout of men’s individual sabre, winning with a 15-12 score. In the semifinal round, Samele won against Spain’s Santiago Madrigal, 15-13, while Heathcock defeated Egypt’s Ziad Elsissy, 15-7. Of note, in the quarterfinals Elsissy beat USA’s world champion Eli Dershwitz, 15-10, following a win in the table of 16 against Hungary’s world champion Andras Szatmari, 15-12.
In the men’s team sabre event, Korea faced USA in the final match, winning with a 45-44 score. In the semifinal round, USA won against Hungary, 45-42, while Korea defeated France, 45-42. The bronze medal went to France over Hungary, 45-28.
Final rankings in men’s individual sabre included Colin Heathcock (USA, gold), Luigi Samele (ITA, silver), Ziad Elsissy (EGY, bronze), Santiago Madrigal (ESP, bronze), Eli Dershwitz (USA), Bolade Apithy (FRA), Fares Ferjani (TUN) and Kento Yoshida (JPN).
Final rankings in men’s team sabre included Korea (gold), USA (silver), France (bronze), Hungary, Italy, Germany, Romania and Iran.
Complete and official results for these events may be found here on the FIE web site. For more exciting world fencing news and features, check out the YouTube FIE Fencing Channel.