Poland’s Gloria Klughardt battled through a field of 95 fencers to become European champion in Women’s Epee, securing Poland’s first gold of the championships.
Klughardt, ranked 21st in the world, went clean through the pools to take the 6th seed entering the direct elimination. To reach the semifinal Klughardt, after a BYE in the round of 128, defeated Alexandra Christina Boronkay (GRE) 15-5, Polina Kuleshova (UKR) 15-8, Sophia Vainberg (ISR) 15-10 and Dorina Wimmer (HUN) 15-12. In the semi-final, Klughardt beat Alexandra Kravets (ISR) 15-11 to earn a spot in the gold medal match.
From the other side of bracket came Israel’s Nicole Feygin, ranked 5th in the world, who finished her pool with 4 wins and 2 losses to receive the 25th seed. To advance to the semi-final Feygin beat Moa Maaninka (SWE) 15-8, teammate Adele Bogdanov (ISR) 15-14, Rita Szarvas (HUN) 15-11 and Linnea Eriksson (SWE) 15-8. In the semifinal she beat Kinga Zgryzniak (POL) 14-13 after a tough battle.
The final initially had a slow tempo as the two fencers got to know each other’s fencing. Before the first break, however, Feygin pulled away slightly and held a 5-2 lead entering the second period. The Polish fencer came out of the blocks in the second period and managed to overtake the lead 9-8 before the break. With one minute left of the final, Klughardt held the lead 14-12 and was only one hit away from winning the gold medal. Feygin scored one hit to bring the score to 13-14, but a final double hit sealed the deal and Gloria Klughardt is the new Junior European Champion in Women’s Epee.
Junior Women's Epee
