Escrime xxi n°103 English

N° 103 DIGITAL MAGAZINE

01 96TH ANNUAL FIE CONGRESS 02 FENCING WORLD CUP AND FENCING GRAND PRIX SERIES 03 INTERVIEW WITH ARIANNA ERRIGO 03 HOMER AND PEREZ MAURICE ATHLETE ROLE MODELS IN BUENOS AIRES YOUTH OLYMPICS 2018

THIS ISSU CONTENTS

Welcome to the latest edition of Escrime XXI packed with the best fencing images, video and features and showcased in a striking new look.

Tap table of content to navigate.

EDITORIAL SPORT INTERVIEW FIE & NATIONAL FEDERATION NEWS NEWS OBITUARIES

WWW.FIE.ORG

EDI TOR IAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE FIE

PRESIDENT

Alisher Usmanov (RUS)

SECRETARY GENERAL

Emmanuel Katsiadakis (M .H.) (GRE)

SECRETARY TREASURER

Ferial Nadira Salhi (ALG)

VICE PRESIDENTS MEMBERS

Ana Pascu (M.H.) (ROU) Donald JR. Anthony (USA) Wei Wang (CHN) Erika Aze (LAT)

Jacek Bierkowski (POL) Velichka Hristeva (BUL) Isabelle Lamour (FRA) Yuki Ota (JPN)

FIE HEAD OFFICE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)

Nathalie Rodriguez M.-H. (FRA)

ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR

Elena Murdaca (ITA)

ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Margarita Berdoz (SUI)

ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR

Gabrielle Meylan (SUI)

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Ylenia Murdaca (ITA)

SPORT

Novak Perovic (RSA) Oleg Peskov (KAZ)

SPORT AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Evgeny Tsoukhlo (RUS)

Giorgio Scarso (ITA)

Natalia Bodrova (RUS)

Bence Szabo (HUN)

SPORT TECHNOLOGY AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Pascal Tesch (LUX)

SPORT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Sophie Treyvaud (SUI)

Aldo Montano (ITA)

COMMUNICATION, MARKETING, TV

PRESIDENT, AFRICAN FENCING CONFEDERATION

Mbagnick Ndiaye (SEN)

CMTV DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR

PRESIDENT, PAN-AMERICAN FENCING CONFEDERATION

Vitaly Logvin (MEX)

DIGITAL COORDINATOR

PRESIDENT, ASIAN FENCING CONFEDERATION

Celso L. Dayrit (M.H.) (PHI)

HEAD OF FIE TV PRODUCTION

PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN FENCING CONFEDERATION

Stanislav Pozdnyakov (RUS)

FIE TV PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

PRESIDENT, OCEANIAN FENCING CONFEDERATION

Helen Smith (M.H.) (AUS)

PRESS OFFICER PHOTOGRAPHER

Elena Grishina (RUS) Maria Ntanou (GRE) Barna Heder (HUN) Svetlana Krasnokoutskaya (RUS) Serge Timacheff (USA) Augusto Bizzi (ITA)

FENCING MARCHES FORWARD Dear Friends, 2018 marks the halfway-point on the Road to Tokyo 2020, and world fencing is marching forward at a rapid pace. Our sport continues to grow globally, founded on the good work we’ve done together to promote fencing and build its popularity.

FOREWORD

In the past year, we’ve seen significant strides and milestones,

We are in the midst of a busy World Cup and Grand Prix season

giving fencing an edge in the Olympic movement as never

taking place throughout the world, culminating most-notably

before. For the first time, we now have 12 medals in the

in the Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships in Verona

Olympic Games, representing all senior fencing events. As I

in April, and the Senior Fencing World Championships in

stated after our recent 2017 Annual Congress in Dubai, it has

Wuxi, China in July. Those who will be Olympians in Tokyo are

been a “ground-breaking” year for us. We have reached more

beginning to emerge, competition is becoming more intense,

people around the world than ever before, leveraging the

and fencers, supporters, and fans are once again feeling

reach of social media so that virtually anyone can enjoy our

Olympic glory looming ahead.

sport and learn how fencing literally changes lives.

Please join me in experiencing this Olympic Spirit with the On the first-annual World Fencing Day, September 9, 2017, the

passion and enthusiasm we fencers know so well. I wish you a

theme of “Solidarity” took fencing to new heights of awareness

happy and productive New Year, and I look forward to sharing

as it was presented, demonstrated, and shared among

our fencing journey together.

Olympians and champions alongside wide-eyed children dreaming of holding a sword for the first time. Social media

Alisher Usmanov

was alive with new-found interest in foil, epee, and sabre.

FIE President

Our Congress in Dubai helped this momentum, approving World Championship locations for upcoming years, as well as passing updated rules and policies to persevere in helping fencing be more accessible, safer, and easier to understand.

It also acknowledged – as did the IOC – the significance of “giving back” to the global community with concepts such as the FIE’s new “Donate your Gear” program.

FOREWORD

d y n a m i c .

e n e r g y .

2018

We wish you a successfull year 2018 with lots of dynamic,energy and p a s s i o n .

p a s s i o n .

CANCUN, MEXICO

OCTOBER 13-15, 2017

WOMEN’S FOIL

USA’S KIEFER, TEAM RUSSIA TAKE GOLD USA’s Lee Kiefer took gold over Italy’s Alice Volpi in the first senior World Cup of the International Fencing Federation’s 2017-2018 season, winning by a single touch, 15-14. In the women’s team foil event, Russia took the gold medal against Italy. More than 100 elite women’s foil fencers travelled from around the world to compete in the event, held at the Hotel Iberostar in Cancun.

WORLD CUP

Italy took all individual medals other than Kiefer, with Volpi defeating teammate and two-time World Champion Arianna Errigo in the semi-final, 15-7, while Kiefer overtook Italian Martina Batini with the same score (15-7).

In the women’s team competition, Italy beat Canada to make the finals, 45-25, while Russia took out USA with a single touch, 45-44. The final was close, with Russia edging-out Italy in the last round, 45-42. The bronze medal was fought

by Canada and USA, with USA taking the medal, 33-26.

The top-eight overall individual ranking from Cancun include Lee Kiefer (USA, gold), Alice Volpi (ITA, silver), Martina Batini (ITA, bronze), Arianna Errigo (ITA, bronze), Ysaora Thibus (FRA), Nicole Ross (USA), Pauline Ranvier (FRA), and Eleanor Harvey (CAN).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place Russia (gold) first, followed by Italy (silver), USA (bronze), Canada, Germany, France, Hungary, and Japan.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

WORLD CUP

TEAM RESULTS

CAIRO, EGYPT

OCTOBER 20-22, 2017 MEN’S FOIL

GREAT BRITAIN’S KRUSE, USA MEN’S TEAM TAKE GOLD Great Britain’s Richard Kruse took gold in Cairo this weekend, winning the second-annual Pharaoh’s Challenge, with a turnout of more than 150 top-level men’s foil fencers from around the world. The USA men’s foil team also took gold, winning the team competition in a field of 16 international teams.

WORLD CUP

With a very strong finish in the men’s individual competition, Kruse overcame Italy’s Alessio Foconi, 15-5, to win the first men’s world cup of the 2017-2018 FIE senior competition season. Kruse defeated Hong Kong’s Ka Long Cheung, 15-6, in the semi-final, while Foconi beat USA’s Race Imboden, 15-11.

In the men’s foil team, competition, USA defeated Russia, 45-26, to take the gold medal. The semi-final rounds had much closer scores, with Russia winning over France, 44-43, and USA beating Italy, 45-42. The bronze medal went to Italy over France, 45-41.

The top-eight overall individual ranking from Cairo include Richard Kruse (GBR, gold), Alessio Foconi (ITA, silver), Ka Long Cheung (HKG, bronze), Race Imboden (USA, bronze), Alexander Massialas (USA), Giorgio Avola (ITA), Andrea Cassara (ITA), and Alexandre Sido (FRA).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place USA in first place (gold), followed

by Russia (silver), Italy (bronze), France, Ukraine, Japan, Germany, and Korea.

WORLD CUP

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

TALLINN, ESTONIA

OCTOBER 20-22, 2017

WOMEN’S EPEE

ITALY’S NAVARRIA & FRENCH TEAM WIN GOLD Italy’s Mara Navarria earned gold in Tallinn, Estonia at the 48th-annual Glaive de Tallinn Women’s Epee World Cup. More than 200 women’s epeeists fenced at the event, which also featured a team event where France won the gold medal with nearly 20 countries competing.

WORLD CUP

Navarria beat Russian World Champion Tatiana Gudkova, 15-12, in the final round to win the individual women’s gold medal. Gudkova overtook another World Champion, Julia Beljajeva (EST), 15-8, in the semi-finals, while Navarria defeated Olympic gold medallist Emese Szasz-Kovacs (HUN) in the same round, 15-13.

In the women’s epee team competition, France beat Italy, 43-39, to take the gold medal. The Italian women narrowly edged-out China in the semi-final, 44-43, while France also won a close match with Germany, 45-43. In the bronze round, another tight win gave the medal to China over Germany, 32-31.

The top-eight overall individual women’s epee ranking from Tallinn included Mara Navarria (ITA, gold), Tatiana Gudkova (RUS, silver), Julia Beljajeva (EST, bronze), Emese Szasz-Kovacs (HUN, bronze), Dzhoan Feybi Bezhura (UKR), Irina Okhotnikova (RUS), Alena Komarova (RUS), and Laura Staehli (SUI).

WOMEN’S RESULTS

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

WORLD CUP

Overall, the top-eight women’s epee team rankings place France in

TEAM RESULTS

first place (gold), followed by Italy (silver), China (bronze), Germany, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, and Hungary.

BERNE, SWITZERLAND

OCTOBER 27-29, 2017

MEN’S EPEE

KOREA WINS DOUBLE GOLD Korean men’s epee fencers scored a double-gold win in Berne, Switzerland at the Tissot Grand Prix de Berne World Cup, taking first in team and individual competitions. More than 250 top men’s epeeists participated from around the world, along with nearly 30 international teams. The World Cup took place at Berne’s Sporthalle Wankdorf.

WORLD CUP

The individual gold medal went to Olympic gold medallist Sangyoung Park (KOR), who overcame Ukrainian Bogdan Nikishin in the final, 15-8. Ukraine took three of the four individual medals, with Volodymyr Stankevych (UKR) losing to Park in the semi-final, 15-11, and Nikishin defeating his teammate, Igor Reizlin (UKR), in the other semi-final, 8-6.

In the men’s team epee competition, Korea again scored victory, this time against Russia, winning the final, 45-39. The Koreans defeated Japan in a very close semi-final, 27-26, while Russia beat Italy, 35-31. The bronze medal went to Japan over Italy, 18-15.

The top-eight overall individual men’s epee ranking from Berne include Sangyoung Park (KOR, gold), Bogdan Nikishin (UKR, silver), Igor Reizlin (UKR, bronze), Volodymyr Stankevych (UKR, bronze), Andras Peterdi (HUN), Vadim Anokhin (RUS), Sergey Bida (RUS), and Keisuke Sakamoto (JPN).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place Korea (gold) first, followed by Russia (silver), Japan (bronze), Italy, France, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Czech Republic.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

WORLD CUP

TEAM RESULTS

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ORLEANS, FRANCE

OCTOBER 27-29, 2017

WOMEN’S SABRE

ITALY’S GREGORIO & TEAM RUSSIA TAKE GOLD WORLD CUP

Italy’s Rossella Gregorio took gold at the Trophee BNP Paribas Women’s Sabre World Cup in Orleans, France, in the Women’s Individual Sabre event. Russia also won first place in Women’s Team Sabre. In all, nearly 20 countries fielded teams and more than 175 top-level women’s sabre fencers participated, with finals taking place at the Orleans Palais des Sports.

In the final of the women’s individual sabre event, Gregorio defeated her teammate, Loreta Gulotta, 15-6. This was a career-best for the 27-year-old Italian. She also defeated France’s Manon Brunet, 15-9, in the semi-final; Brunet won this same event in 2016. In a close match, Gulotta overcame Romania’s Bianca Pascu in the other semi-final, 15-14.

In the women’s team sabre competition, Russia took the top honours of the day, beating France in the final, 45-32. France defeated Korea in the semi-final, 45-39, while Russia took out Italy, 45-41.

The bronze match went to Korea in a close round against Italy, 45-43.

The top-eight overall individual women’s sabre ranking from Orleans include Rossella Gregorio (ITA, gold), Loreta Gulotta (ITA, silver), Manon Brunet (FRA, bronze), Bianca Pascu (ROU, bronze),

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Anna Marton (HUN), Irene Vecchi (ITA), Malgorzata Kozaczuk (POL), and Caroline Queroli (FRA).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place Russia (gold) first, followed by France (silver), Korea (bronze), Italy, Ukraine, USA, Spain, and Hungary.

WORLD CUP

TEAM RESULTS

ALGIERS, ALGERIA

NOVEMBER 3-5, 2017

MEN’S SABRE

USA’S DERSHWITZ & TEAM GERMANY TAKE GOLD USA’s Eli Dershwitz took the gold medal at the Algerian Sabre World Cup, held at the Salle Omnisports Harcha Hacene in Algiers.

Germany won first place in the men’s team sabre event, with a field of 18 countries competing. More than 130 senior men’s sabre fencers participated from around the world.

WORLD CUP

Dershwitz, who last year won the Seoul, Korea Sabre Grand Prix, overcame Italy’s Enrico Berre, 15-9, to win the World Cup. Both finalists competed against Russians in the semi-finals, with Berre defeating Kamil Ibragimov (RUS), 15-6, and Dershwitz winning a very close bout over World Champion Veniamin Reshetnikov (RUS), 15-14.

In the men’s sabre team competition, Germany defeated Italy in the final, 45-28. Both teams achieved the same score, 45-34, over their opponents in the semi-final, with Germany fencing Iran and Italy facing Hungary. The bronze medal went to Hungary by a single point over Iran, 45-44.

The top-eight overall individual men’s sabre ranking from Algiers include Eli Dershwitz (USA, gold), Enrico Berre (ITA, silver), Kamil Ibragimov (RUS, bronze), Veniamin Reshetnikov (RUS, bronze), Andras Szatmari (HUN), Alberto Pellegrini (ITA), Bolade Apithy (FRA), and Junho Kim (KOR).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place Germany (gold) first, followed by Italy (silver), Hungary (bronze), Iran, Russia, France, Korea, and USA.

WORLD CUP

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

ST. MAUR, FRANCE

NOVEMBER 3-5, 2017

WOMEN’S FOIL

KOREA’S HONG & TEAM ITALY WIN WOMEN’S FOIL Korea’s Hyo Jin Hong won gold in France at the St. Maur Women’s Foil World Cup, held at the Sport Center Pierre Brossolette. Italy was victorious, as well, winning the Women’s Team Foil event, with 19 countries participating.

Nearly 200 international women’s fencers took part in the competition.

WORLD CUP

Korea’s Hong faced World Champion silver medallist and Grand Prix winner Italy’s Alice Volpi in the final, winning by two points, 15-13. This was a career-best win for the Korean. Volpi overcame Russian fencer Svetlana Tripapina by a single touch in the semi-final, 15-14, while Hong faced her teammate, Song Oh Chae, whom she beat by default when Chae had to withdraw.

In the women’s team foil competition, Italy prevailed over Russia, 45-38, in the final round. Italy had overtaken China in the semi-final, 45-32, and Russia beat USA, 4539. In the bronze match, China beat USA, 45-42.

The top-eight overall individual women’s foil ranking from St. Maur include Hyo Jin Hong (KOR, gold), Alice Volpi (ITA, silver), Song Oh Chae (KOR, bronze), Svetlana Tripapina (RUS, bronze), Nicole Ross (USA), Hee Sook Jeon (KOR), Chiara Cini (ITA), and Aida Mohamed (HUN).

The top-eight overall individual women’s team foil rankings place Italy (gold) in first place, followed by Russia (silver), China (bronze), USA, France, Hungary, Canada, and Korea.

WORLD CUP

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

SUZHOU, CHINA

NOVEMBER 10-12, 2017

WOMEN’S EPEE

CHINA’S SUN, POLISH TEAM WIN GOLD Olympic bronze medallist Yiwen Sun of China took gold in her home country, winning the Suzhou Women’s Epee World Cup. The Polish women’s epee team also scored victory, earning a gold medal from a field of 20 teams from around the world. More than 150 individual competitors participated in the event, which took place in Suzhou’s SND Cultural & Sports Centre Indoor Stadium.

WORLD CUP

The individual gold medal went to Olympic gold medallist Sangyoung Park (KOR), who overcame Ukrainian Bogdan Nikishin in the final, 15-8. Ukraine took three of the four individual medals, with Volodymyr Stankevych (UKR) losing to Park in the semifinal, 15-11, and Nikishin defeating his teammate, Igor Reizlin (UKR), in the other semi-final, 8-6.

In the men’s team epee competition, Korea again scored victory, this time against Russia, winning the final, 45-39. The Koreans defeated Japan in a very close semi-final, 27-26, while Russia beat Italy, 35-31. The bronze medal went to Japan over Italy, 18-15.

The top-eight overall individual men’s epee ranking from Berne include Sangyoung Park (KOR, gold), Bogdan Nikishin (UKR, silver), Igor Reizlin (UKR, bronze), Volodymyr Stankevych (UKR, bronze), Andras Peterdi (HUN), Vadim Anokhin (RUS), Sergey Bida (RUS), and Keisuke Sakamoto (JPN).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place Korea (gold) first, followed by Russia (silver), Japan (bronze), Italy, France, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Czech Republic.

WORLD CUP

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

TOKYO, JAPAN

NOVEMBER 10-12, 2017 MEN’S FOIL

FRANCE’S LE PECHOUX & TEAM USA WIN GOLD French foil fencer Erwann Le Pechoux won the gold medal in Tokyo at the Prince Takamado Men’s Foil World Cup, his eighth World Cup win in addition to six Grand Prix events. USA also took gold, winning the men’s team foil event, out of a field of 20 countries participating. More than 175 individual men’s foilists fenced throughout the event, which took place at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium.

WORLD CUP

Le Pechoux faced Italian World Champion Andrea Cassara in a very close final, winning by a single touch, 15-14. Cassara defeated American Gerek Meinhardt in the semi-final, 15-11, while Le Pechoux faced Italy’s Edoardo Luperi, winning with a 15-8 score.

In the men’s team foil competition, the USA took the gold medal over Korea, with a final score of 45-34. Korea won the semi-final bout against Denmark, 45-37, to make the finals, while the USA overcame the home team, Japan, with a final tally of 45-38.

Japan earned the bronze medal against Denmark, 45-25.

The top-eight overall individual men’s foil ranking from Tokyo include Erwann Le Pechoux (FRA, gold), Andrea Cassara (ITA, silver), Edoardo Luperi (ITA, bronze), Gerek Meinhardt (USA, bronze), Enzo Lefort (FRA), Takahiro Shikine (JPN), Damiano Rosatelli (ITA), and Nicholas Edward Choi (HKG).

The top-eight overall men’s team foil rankings place USA (gold) first, followed by Korea (silver), Japan (bronze), Denmark, France, Russia, Ukraine, and China.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

WORLD CUP

TEAM RESULTS

SAINT - NIKLAAS, BELGIUM

NOVEMBER 17-19, 2017

WOMEN’S SABRE

UKRAINE’S KHARLAN & TEAM ITALY VICTORIOUS Three-time World Champion Olga Kharlan (UKR) took gold at the SGK Ladies Sabre World Cup in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, winning against a field of more than 160 women. The Italian women’s sabre team also took gold in the team event, with 19 countries participating from around the world. The event took place at the Sportcentrum De Witte Molen.

WORLD CUP

Kharlan defeated Italian Rossella Gregorio in the final, 15-6; Gregorio took gold last month at the Orleans, France women’s sabre world cup. Gregorio defeated her teammate, Irene Vecchi, in the semi-finals, 15-13, while Kharlan took out Russian Olympic gold medallist, Yana Egorian, 15-5, in the same round.

In the women’s team competition, Italy overcame France in the final, 45-40, to with the gold medal. The French women defeated Korea, 45-41, in the semi-final, while Italy beat Russia, 45-38. The bronze medal went to Korea over Russia, 45-34.

The top-eight overall individual women’s sabre ranking from Sint-Niklaas include Olga Kharlan (UKR, gold), Rossella Gregorio (ITA, silver), Yana Egorian (RUS, bronze), Irene Vecchi (ITA, bronze), Anna Marton (HUN), Manon Brunet (FRA), Anna Limbach (GER), and Alina Komashchuk (UKR).

The top-eight overall women’s team rankings place Italy (gold) first, followed

by France (silver), Korea (bronze), Russia, USA, Poland, Ukraine, and Spain.

WORLD CUP

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

LEGNANO, ITALY

NOVEMBER 17-19, 2017

MEN’S EPEE

HUNGARY’S REDLI & TEAM RUSSIA WIN GOLD WORLD CUP

World Championship bronze medallist Andras Redli (HUN) was the gold medallist in Legnano, Italy, at the Trofeo Carroccio Men’s Epee World Cup. Russia also earned a gold medal in the men’s team event, with nearly 30 countries participating. Close to 300 individual men’s epeeists competed in the event, which took place at the Palazzetto dello Sport di Castellanza.

Redli fenced his teammate, Daniel Berta, in the final, winning gold with a 15-6 score. It was a career-best medal for Berta, and the second World Cup gold medal for Redli. Berta defeated Swiss epee champion Max Heinzer in the semi-final, 15-7, while Redli beat Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Kurbanov by a single point, 13-12, in the same round. Berta also beat Olympic gold medallist Sangyoung Park (KOR) in the round of 16, 14-11, and two-time World Champion Paolo Pizzo (ITA), 15-13, in the quarter-finals.

In the men’s team epee competition, Russia won over Italy, 45-35. Italy barely edged-out France in the semi-final, 44-43, while Russia also had a narrow defeat against Korea, 45-43. Korea took the bronze medal over France with yet another close score, 43-42.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

The top-eight overall individual men’s epee ranking from Legnano include Andras Redli (HUN, gold), Daniel Berta (HUN, silver), Max Heinzer (SUI, bronze), Ruslan Kurbanov (KAZ, bronze), Paolo Pizzo (ITA), Marco Fichera (ITA), Daniel Jerent (FRA), and Masaru Yamada (JPN).

The top-eight overall men’s epee team rankings place Russia (gold)

TEAM RESULTS

first, followed by Italy (silver), Korea (bronze), France, USA, Switzerland, Hungary, and Czech Republic.

WORLD CUP

GYOR, HUNGARY

DECEMBER 1-3, 2017

MEN’S SABRE

KOREA SCORES DOUBLE GOLD AT GYOR Korean men’s sabre fencers took two gold medals at International Fencing Federation (FIE) World Cup in Gyor, Hungary. The competition, which took place at the Audi Arena Gyor, drew more than 200 top-level individual competitors and 25 teams from around the world.

WORLD CUP

Korean Sanguk Oh beat Russian World Champion Veniamin Reshetnikov, 15-9, in the final match of the Gerevich-KovacsKarpati Individual Men’s Sabre event. Reshetnikov had a strong win in the semi-final over French fencer Bolade Apithy, 15-5, and Sanguk overtook Apithy’s teammate, Vincent Anstett, 15-13, in the same round. Another World Champion, Andras Szatmari (HUN), went out in the quarter-finals to Anstett, 15-11.

It was Korea and Italy duelling for gold in the final round of the Zarandi Csaba Men’s Sabre Team World Cup event, with Korea winning by ten points, 45-35. Russia went out in the semi-finals to Korea, 45-29, while Hungary lost to Italy in a tight match, 45-43, in the same round. Hungary won over Russia in the bronze-medal match, winning 45-40.

The top-eight overall individual men’s sabre ranking from Gyor includes Sanguk Oh (KOR, gold), Veniamin Reshetnikov (RUS, silver), Vincent Anstett (FRA, bronze), Bolade Apithy (FRA, bronze), Andras Szatmari (HUN), Luca Curatoli (ITA), Max Hartung (GER), and Byungul Hwang (KOR).

Overall, the top-eight team rankings place Korea (gold) in first place, followed by Italy (silver), Hungary (bronze), Russia, France, Germany, Iran, and USA.

WORLD CUP

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

THE WAY TO

VICTORY

TURIN, ITALY

DECEMBER 3, 2017

RUSSIA’S DERIGLAZOVA, USA’S MASSIALAS TAKE GOLD AT TURIN FOIL FENCING GRAND PRIX Top-ranked foil fencers competed this weekend in Turin, Italy at the first of nine International Fencing Federation (FIE) Grand Prix tournaments of the 2017-2018 season, with more than 300 men and women participating in two events. Russia and USA took the honours, with Russia’s Inna Deriglazova winning the women’s event, and USA’s Alexander Massialas taking the men’s gold.

GRAND PRIX

In the men’s foil event, the 23-year-old Massialas, Olympic and World Championship silver medallist and ranked first in the world, overtook Russia’s Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Timur Safin, ranked second in the world, by two touches. Massialas came from behind in the second period to win with a final score of 15-13. In the semi-final, Safin defeated Italian Alessio Foconi, 15-12, while Massialas beat France’s Enzo Lefort, 15-7. Olympic gold medallist, Italian Daniele Garozzo, was beaten in the quarter-finals by teammate Foconi, 15-10.

For the women’s foil competition, Russia’s Olympic gold medallist and two-time World Champion, Inna Deriglazova, faced and overtook Italy’s Alice Volpi in the final, 15-9.

The Russian had similarly beaten Volpi last summer in the women’s foil final of the World Championships in Leipzig, Germany. Volpi won against teammate Valentina De Costanzo in the semi-final, 15-8, and Deriglazova narrowly beat Italy’s Olympic silver medallist and two-time World Champion Arianna Errigo in the other semi-final, 15-14.

Overall top-eight ranking for the men’s foil event includes Alexander Massialas (USA, gold), Timur Safin (RUS, silver), Alessio Foconi (ITA, bronze), Enzo Lefort (FRA, bronze), Daniele Garozzo (ITA), Richard Kruse (GBR), Erwann Le Pechoux (FRA), and Valerio Aspromonte (ITA).

Top-eight for the women include Inna Deriglazova (RUS, gold), Alice Volpi (ITA, silver), Valentina De Costanzo (ITA, bronze), Arianna Errigo (ITA, bronze), Ysaora Thibus (FRA), Svetlana Tripapina (RUS), Hyunhee Nam (KOR), and Martina Favaretto (ITA)

GRAND PRIX

MEN’S RESULTS

WOMEN’S RESULTS

DOHA, QATAR

DECEMBER 10, 2017

KOREA’S PARK, ROMANIA’S POPESCU WIN GOLD AT QATAR EPEE FENCING GRAND PRIX More than 300 of the world’s top-ranked men’s and women’s fencers competed this weekend in Doha at the 2017 Qatar Epee Grand Prix. Korean Olympic champion Sangyoung Park won gold in the men’s event, and Romanian Ana Maria Popescu was victorious for the women. This is the second Grand Prix of nine taking place in the 2017-2018 International Fencing Federation (FIE) competition season.

GRAND PRIX

In the men’s event, Park took the gold medal against Olympic bronze medallist Jinsun Jung (KOR) by priority in overtime, 4-3. Both Koreans defeated Italians in the semi-finals,

“I’m so very happy, especially because I am here individually and not part of the national team. I did it by myself.”

with Park overtaking two-time World Champion Paolo Pizzo, 15-13, and Jung winning against Andrea Santarelli, 15-11. Park also won this same event in 2014.

There were several notable results among the men: Italian Enrico Garozzo lost to Jung in the round of eight by a touch, 15-14, and three-time Grand Prix champion Max Heinzer of Switzerland also missed the medal rounds by a single point in the round of eight against Park, 14-13. Ukrainian two-time Grand Prix winner Bogdan Nikishin lost closely in the quarter-finals, as well, to Pizzo, 15-14.

Following his win, Park said, “I’m so very happy, especially because I am here individually and not part of the national team. I did it by myself.”

After an extended absence from competition, Romania’s Olympic silver medallist Ana Maria Popescu took gold at the women’s event, a repeat of her gold medal in Doha in 2009. The Romanian epeeist defeated Italian Mara Navarria in the final, 10-6; the Italian won this same event in 2015 and 2012.

In the semi-final, Navarria beat Korean Injeong Choi with a score of 15-10; Choi was the winner of the 2013 Xuzhou, China Grand Prix. In the same round Popescu overtook Guangjuan Hou from China, 15-9; Hou had the best day of her career after being ranked 152nd coming into the event. Hungarian Olympic gold medallist Emese Szasz-Kovacs also had a narrow loss to Hou in the round of eight, 12-11.

GRAND PRIX

DOHA, QATAR

DECEMBER 10, 2017

“I’m so lucky, I’m like a kid in a candy shop. After eight months off the piste, for me it’s such a big satisfaction to be here. I’m back in business.”

GRAND PRIX

After her victory, Popescu said “I’m so lucky, I’m like a kid in a candy shop. After eight months off the piste, for me it’s such a big satisfaction to be here. I’m back in business.”

Overall top-eight ranking for the men’s epee event include Sangyoung Park (KOR, gold), Jinsun Jung (KOR, silver), Paolo Pizzo (ITA, bronze), Andrea Santarelli (ITA, bronze), Bogdan Nikishin (UKR), Max Heinzer (SUI), Enrico Garozzo (ITA), and Volodymyr Stankevych (UKR).

Top-eight for the women included Ana Maria Popescu (ROU, gold), Mara Navarria (ITA, silver), Injeong Choi (KOR, bronze), Guangjuan Hou (CHN, bronze), Emese Szasz-Kovacs (HUN), Olena Kryvytska (UKR), Tatyana Andryushina (RUS), and Giulia Rizzi (ITA).

GRAND PRIX

MEN’S RESULTS

WOMEN’S RESULTS

CANCUN, MEXICO

DECEMBER 17, 2017

KOREA’S OH, UKRAINE’S KHARLAN WIN GOLD AT 2017 CANCUN SABRE FENCING GRAND PRIX Korea’s Sanguk Oh and Ukraine’s Olga Kharlan scored victories this weekend in Mexico at the 2017 Cancun Sabre Grand Prix. Nearly 250 men and women competed in two events at this third in a nine-event Grand Prix series lasting throughout the 2017-2018 International Fencing Federation (FIE) competition season. The event took place at the Iberostar Resort, south of Cancun and near Playa del Carmen.

GRAND PRIX

In the women’s event on Saturday, Kharlan (UKR) defeated Italian Arianna Errigo, 156, in the final. Errigo is best known as the Olympic silver medalist and two-time World

“My strategy was to show sabre fencing. For her [Errigo], it’s play the distance. She is very strong in both sabre and foil, and is amazing, but this is sabre. She’s awesome, and my congratulations to her.”

Champion in women’s foil, but is now also competing in women’s sabre with a plan to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in two weapons. Kharlan, who was ranked second entering this event, also defeated Olympic gold medallist Yana Egorian (RUS) by a single touch, 15-14, in the semi-final. Errigo beat Cecilia Berder of France, 15-14, in the other semi-final, and prior to that overtook the number-one-ranked fencer, Hungarian Anna Marton, in the quarter-finals in another very close match, 15-14.

“Today was a tough day,” said Kharlan. “My strategy was to show sabre fencing. For her [Errigo], it’s play the distance. She is very strong in both sabre and foil, and is amazing, but this is sabre. She’s awesome, and my congratulations to her.”

In the men’s event on Sunday, Oh took on two-time Olympic gold medallist Aron Szilagyi (HUN), defeating him in the final by a point, 15-14. In the semi-final, Oh defeated another Hungarian, World Champion Andras Szatmari, 15-10. In the same round, Szilagyi tookout number-one ranked Bongil Gu (KOR), 15-13.

“Szilagyi has very good footwork and I used speed against him to win,” said Oh.

GRAND PRIX

MEN’S RESULTS

WOMEN’S RESULTS

CANCUN, MEXICO

GRAND PRIX

DECEMBER 17, 2017

ADDITIONAL AND COMPLETE RESULTS MAY BE FOUND ON THE FIE OFFICIAL WEBSITE WORLD CUP HERE

WWW.FIE.ORG

GRAND PRIX HERE

ITALY

ARIANNA ERRIGO 1

As a two-time World Champion and Olympic Games silver medallist in women’s foil, what is your next goal?

I will try to win the individual gold medal at the Olympics Game. It is the only test I have missed.

I would like to win the same competition in both foil and sabre! That would be my dream.

INTERVIEW

4

What were the biggest challenges in learning to compete at a high level in a new weapon?

There were a lot of problems! First the pools! After nine years of skipping the first day, now I have qualifications. Fencing for five

2

You have now achieved a silver medal in a Grand Prix as a women’s sabre fencer, in addition to foil. What are your goals with sabre?

matches are fast and there is only a short the time between one match and another. During the match I have to stay more focused and understand immediately what has happened.

The training is very important. During the competitions I haven’t

I would like to get onto the Italian team and compete in the

got time to think or try something, but at home I have to learn the

European championships and World championships this year. A

new actions, new movement with my coach. I feel like when I was

path that should lead me to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but this

young in foil - discovering something new every day.

would only be possible if the FIE does not change the calendar.

I would like to ask the FIE no to overlap the competitions for female sabre and foil. I hope that everyone can help me in this venture, for me and for the fencing movement.

3

points is very difficult. The competition in sabre is very fast. The

What was it that encouraged you to try two weapons, and why sabre?

The desire to push myself further. To try something that was impossible in everyone’s eyes. Foil and sabre are opposites, but inside me I have an instinctive liking for sabre.

INTERVIEW – ARIANNA ERRIGO

5

How do you divide your time in training?

6

My coaches are in the same club, my boyfriend, Luca

What kind of feedback and support (or criticism) have you had from your friends, family, coaches, or fans?

Simoncelli, for foil and Lucio Landi for sabre. Together we

I was born, grew up and started fencing in Kurchatov. It is a small city

decided the program. Sometimes before sabre competition

but famous for its fencers, especially in women’s foil, including Olga

I fence in foil, to feel the sensation or depending on what I

Lobyntseva, Iana Rouzavina, Eugyenia Lamonova, Julia Birioukova,

need! I think that foil helps me for the sabre and that training

Inna Deriglazova, and me - all of us from one fencing club. I asked my

sabre helps me in foil, so there aren’t any rules!

Mom to take me to fencing classes when I was eight years old. After a few training sessions I liked it, and started to train every day. There weren’t many boys in our group and I was fencing mostly with girls.

I only started to fence with boys a lot when I started to take part in camps with national teams as a cadet and junior.

7

Does fencing two weapons at an elite level pose any specific problems or advantages? What are they?

Fencing teaches that there aren’t any rules. If in the training you are the best technically or physically you can still lose. Our sport is made up of situations. It is not a time that you have to improve against yourself. You win if your mind is free, if you have enthusiasm. I think that sabre help me do many things. The movement is more difficult in sabre than foil. The sabre helps me in foil because it is so fast that when I fence in foil I see things before someone even moves. But the most important is that I have fun. I have a dream and even if it is very difficult, I take it as a challenge to myself, whatever happens!

INTERVIEW – ARIANNA ERRIGO

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR

NOVEMBER 14, 2017

PAN AMERICAN TRAINING COURSE FOR SABRE COACHES The regional development strategy of the Pan American Fencing Confederation continues to innovate its human resource development processes as a primary goal.

Based on the analysis of information produced in the previous training courses and rankings of the FIE, the CPE implemented its innovative training curriculum for coaches of saber in continuation of the work started in May with epee. The course was held from October 23 to November 6, bringing together 26 countries with 31 participants.

FIE & NATIONAL FEDERATION NEWS

ADVANCED PERFORMANCE BY DESIGN

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DUBAI, UAE

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

FIE & NATIONAL FEDERATION NEWS

96TH ANNUAL CONGRESS

The annual congress of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November, with delegates from 122 national fencing federations conferring on the results of the year and the future of fencing. In addition to discussing and approving a variety of reports, accounts, and the annual budget, the Congress addressed proposals of modifications to FIE statutes and rules that affect world fencing.

Notable decisions made at the Congress included the approval of criteria

The Congress nominated several members of honour, including

for qualifications for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which are now

Carl Borack (USA), Emmanuele Francesco Maria Emanuele (ITA),

submitted for final approval to the IOC; the admission of the Angolan

George R. Van Dugteren (NED, posthumously), and Omar Vergara

National Fencing Federation as an official FIE federation (increasing the

(ARG). The Congress also awarded the 2017 Chevalier Feyerick

FIE country federation membership to 152); the selection of Salt Lake City

Trophy to President Alisher Usmanov, in recognition of his invaluable

(USA) to host the 2020 Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships;

contribution to fencing.

and the selection of Cairo (Egypt) and Zagreb (Croatia) to host the 2019 and 2020 Veteran Fencing World Championships, respectively.

96TH ANNUAL CONGRESS

DONATE YOUR FENCING GEAR LAUNCHES FIE & NATIONAL FEDERATION NEWS

JAPAN The Japanese Fencing Federation (JFF) has launched the FIE “Donate Your Fencing Gear” program at the H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy Men’s Foil World Cup, which took place from November 10-12 in Tokyo. This was the fourth major world fencing event to feature the program, after the Junior & Cadet World Championships in Bulgaria in April, the Senior World Fencing Championships in Germany in July, and World Fencing Day in September.

Equipment donated by athletes at the Tokyo event was given to the Colombian Fencing Federation, one of the official recipients who have requested aid from the FIE. The program was promoted throughout Japan via direct mail, social media, and the Federation Web site (http://fencing-jpn.jp), producing a total of 167 items given by 18 fencers and two fencing associations.

Equipment was brought directly to the competition by athletes, and, with the cooperation of the JFF Athletes’ Commission, fencers not able to go to the competition venue were able to donate gear earlier.

There was enthusiastic participation from fencers, to the point that there were athletes waiting at the venue for the donations desk to open in order to make donations. Awareness and support for the project is very important to the Japanese Federation and its members, in particular as it helps attract attention from fencers and spectators as the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games approach. This project symbolises the concept of sustainability, one of the key initiatives of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It serves to connect Japan and the world through fencing in a unique and visible manner.

For this program, the Japanese Fencing Federation received official support and institutional approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affair and “Sport for Tomorrow”, an international contribution through sport initiative jointly implemented by public and private sectors in Japan, which promotes sport worldwide until the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Minobe Kazuyasu, a member of the FIE Athletes’ Commission said,

“I hope that donated equipment in this project will be reused in

another country and as many fencers as possible can receive gear. Then I am assured it is a good opportunity to broaden our horizons for athletes.”

DONATE YOUR FENCING GEAR

IOC LAUNCHES TOOLKIT FOR OLYMPIC MOVEMENT

This toolkit aims to assist National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) in the development of policies and procedures to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport.

The IOC’s mission is to place athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Agenda 2020 sets out the strategic roadmap for this. This includes Recommendation 18: Strengthen support to athletes. Through this recommendation, the IOC has taken significant steps to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport.

The IOC prevention of harassment and abuse in sport (PHAS) initiatives have been established by the IOC’s Athletes’, Athletes’ Entourage, Medical and Scientific, and Women in Sport Commissions, in collaboration with NOCs, IFs and subject matter experts.

Furthermore, the need for the development of resources related to athlete safeguarding was further requested by athletes at the International Athletes’ Forum in 2015.

Find more information about the toolkit here.

NEWS

SPORTS STARS TO GATHER AT THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed the first 25 Athlete Role Models (ARMs) who will gather in the Argentinian capital next October to mentor and support the next generation of young athletes who will compete at Buenos Aires 2018.

Sporting legends have been selected by the International Federations in the 32 sports that appear on the Olympic programme at next year’s Youth Olympic Games. The list includes many well-known names in the world of sport, including Olympic and world champions, with more to be revealed closer to the Games.

Daryl Homer and Maria Belen Perez Maurice will be the fencing Athletes Role Models in Buenos Aires Youth Olympics 2018 In Buenos Aires, the ARMs will be on hand for a minimum of five days and will play a key role in supporting and mentoring the 3,998 young athletes that will be participating in the Games.

NEWS

Belen PĂŠrez Maurice ARG and Daryl Homer USA

The ARMs will be accessible to the athletes in the Youth Olympic Village and during a series of educational activities and workshops. These activities will focus on areas such as skills development, careers advice, how to lead healthy lifestyles and the Olympic values.

In Buenos Aires, the ARMs will also spend time in the four parks, engaging with local youth through various Learn

The ARMs will be behind the scenes during the competitions

& Share activities and participating in sport initiation

and will also be available for informal chats in a specially created

sessions for public.

lounge that will be open to all participants. The athletes and fans can also learn valuable lessons from the ARMs during “Chat with

Li Lingwei, Acting Chair of the IOC Coordination

Champions” sessions – a Q&A format to promote discussion with

Commission for Buenos Aires 2018 and badminton

the young athletes. Fans of the YOG will also have the opportunity

legend said:

to put their questions directly to the ARMs during informal chat sessions on the Olympic Channel and wider social media

“The Athlete Role Models programme is a

platforms.

The main goal behind the programme is to enable the ARMs to share their experiences and inspire the athletes to be the best they can be both on and off the field of play. Athlete feedback from previous YOG editions have shown that the ARM programme is consistently ranked highly in athletes’ experience. Young athletes are inspired by these ARMs, not only to perform at their best, but

crucial part of the Youth Olympic Games and an opportunity for young athletes to learn valuable lessons from the best in sport. Competing in international sport at the highest level is an exhilarating career, but it also comes with its pressures and challenges, which is why we are happy to have the team of Athlete Role Models to support the next generation.”

also to become positive role models themselves.

Click here for the first 25 names to be revealed as ARMs. For more information on the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 go to: www.buenosaires2018.com.

NEWS

OBITUARIES ALEKSANDR PERELMANN With deepest regrets, we inform you of the passing of Aleksandr Perelmann of Ukraine, on October 10 after a long illness. Born on April 8, 1962 in Kiev, Mr. Perelmann spent his life dedicated to fencing.

Born to a father who was a scientist, he decided to study sports at the University of Kiev, becoming educated as a fencing coach at the highest level. He became a coach in the 1990s in Ukraine. His son, Mark, born in 1994, became a strong youth fencer and ultimately joined the German national junior team in men’s foil.

From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Perelmann coached the Ukrainian national women’s foil team, which qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He went on to coach in Germany, where he worked in several clubs as coach, including in Weinheim and Mannheim, and ultimately received German nationality.

There, with about 25 students, his fencers took more than 90 national and international medals at all age levels.

Since 2011, he served as head coach of the German cadet men’s foil team, and was a member of the German delegation at the Junior and Cadet European and World Championships.

Mr. Perelmann’s students admired him as a coach, and for his deep and lifelong passion for fencing.

The German fencing world, along with the entire global fencing community, is deeply saddened to lose him as a coach and friend.

We extend our condolences and sympathy to his family, friends, associates, and students.

OBITUARIES

PETER LOETSCHER The FIE is saddened to report the passing of Peter Loetscher (SUI) on October 24, 2017.

He was 76. A member of the Basel Fencing Company (FCB), he was trained by Roger Nigon. Mr. Loetscher earned a silver medal at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games in the team epee event. He also participated in the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympic Games. He was also individual European epee champion in Heidenheim, 1974; two-time individual epee Swiss champion; Spanish individual epee champion in Barcelona, 1963; and bronze medallist at the team epee World Cup in Ankara, Turkey, 1970.

On behalf of the world fencing community, we express our deepest condolences to Mr. Loetscher’s family and friends.

OBITUARIES

GYONGYI SZALAY The FIE regrets to inform our world fencing family of the passing of Hungarian epee champion Gyongyi Szalay. An Olympic bronze medallist (Atlanta 1996), Ms. Szalay was only 49, born on March 24, 1968. She died on December 30.

Coached by King Eitner, she was from Tapolca, Hungary and fenced on the national women’s epee team from 1989 to 1999, earning seven World Championships gold medals in team events. In 1991, she was European champion.

‘I am still shocked,’ said Krisztian Kulscar, Hungarian Olympic Committee president and fencing World Champion. ‘We are not only mourning a great athlete and a fencing coach as the Hungarian Olympic Movement and the Hungarian Fencing Federation lost a person who was respected and dearly loved by the entire sport community.’

We offer our sincere condolences to Ms. Szalay’s family, friends, teammates, and the Hungarian Fencing Federation.

Photo credit: Hungarian Fencing Federation

Credit

OBITUARIES