Canada won their first Junior World Championship title in women's epee team, defeating Hungary 45-26 in the gold medal final of the 2026 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships at Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro tonight.
The Canadians' route to gold was far from straightforward. They edged second-ranked Ukraine 27-26 in overtime in the quarterfinals before beating the United States 45-35 in the semifinals.
In the final, Canada's defence held firm throughout, with quick footwork and well-timed flèche attacks keeping Hungary at a distance.
The score was 45-26. The Canadian team of Nicole Xuan, Ruien Xiao — both individual bronze medallists — and Julia Yin, the 2025 Junior World Champion (Wuxi, China), was the decisive force throughout.
The United States took bronze, defeating Italy 45-36.
Final Rankings — Junior Women's Epee Team
1. Canada
2. Hungary
3. United States of America
4. Italy
5. Ukraine
6. China
7. France
8. Czechia