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Obituary: Kate d’Oriola (MH, HOF)

LAUSANNE, Switz., June 17, 2025 – The FIE is deeply saddened to learn of the passing on 14 June of Catherine “Kate” d’Oriola, née Delbarre, a few days after celebrating her 100th birthday. Kate d'Oriola was named a Member of Honour of the FIE by the Congress held in 2008, then a member of the FIE Hall of Fame in 2014.

Born on 8 June 1925 in Calais (France), she was silver medallist in team foil at the World Championships in 1952 (Copenhagen), 1953 (Brussels), 1955 (Rome) and 1956 (London). She was bronze medallist in the team foil event at the 1954 (Luxembourg) and 1958 (Philadelphia) World Championships.

She was ranked fifth in individual foil at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and fifth in team foil at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.

She was captain of the French women's foil team in the 1970s, which won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and a gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

She was a member of the FIE Rules Commission from 1974 to 1993 and served on the directoire technique at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games and several World Championships.

In 1971, she married the foil fencer Christian d'Oriola (FRA, MH), who had won 19 individual or team, world and Olympic medals: 12 gold and 7 silver.

On the occasion of her 100th birthday, the French Fencing Federation paid a vibrant tribute to Kate d'Oriola: "A woman of character and rigour, Kate was also involved in community life: president of the FFE's Women's Technical Commission, member of the Rules Commission and a member of the Directoire technique at the Olympic Games and World Championships. Kate Delbarre-d'Oriola remains a ‘living memory of fencing’ and a source of inspiration for all. On 14 May 2024, she had the honour of carrying the Olympic flame in Montpellier, a powerful symbol of her sporting and human heritage.”

The FIE extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Kate d'Oriola, the French Fencing Federation and the European Fencing Confederation, and expresses its deepest sympathy to them at this difficult time.

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