Olympic Report
The team events began on Day Four of the Games. The individual tournament had produced records and firsts on every day and notably athletes from six different countries had won gold. At this stage the ROC sat on the top of the medal table with one gold medal, two silvers and one bronze with all the medals distributed amongst twelve countries.
Women’s Team Epee
Eight teams competed in this event and it was no surprise to see China progress to the semi-finals with a 44-32 victory over Hong Kong. Korea had a tighter match against the USA and took the lead in the fourth and pushed on to win 38-33.
The surprises came in the bottom half of the draw. First Italy stunned the ROC taking a 19-17 lead into the final leg where Violetta Kolobova and Rosella Fiamingo both scored 14 hits in a thrilling finish – Italy winning 33-31. Then the number two seeds Poland who led going into the eighth leg fell to Estonia. Lehis, the individual bronze medal winner did the damage in the penultimate bout and Estonia went on to win 29-26.
In the first semi-final Korea led the World number one team China 9-8 after leg three. The Chinese team substituted Sun Yiwen, the individual gold medalist but still trailed 14-17 after six bouts. Korea pushed on in the final third to win 38-29.
Estonia played a patient game against Italy in the other semi-final. They held a six hit advantage after six fights, extending that through Erika Kirpu to nine hits after seven. Federica Isola came on for Italy in the penultimate bout and scored 11 hits but Estonia still led 29-25. Lehis anchored them to a 42-34 victory.
In the bronze medal match Italy lined up with Rosella Fiamingo, Federica Isola and Mara Navarria against China who started with Zhu Mingye, Xu Anqi and Lin Sheng. The Chinese led 7-6 after the first third of the match but the Italian trio outscored China 9-4 in the middle of the match and led 15-11. Navarria gained another two points in the seventh leg before the Italian substitute Alberta Santuccio came on. Despite China winning the final two bouts 8-4, Italy claimed the bronze medal 23-21.
Korea began the gold medal match with Choi Injeong, Kang Young Mi and Song Sera and led Estonia 13-11 after three bouts. The Estonian line-up of Julia Beljejeva, Katrina Lehis and Erika Kirpu closed the gap by one hit in the next three legs but still trailed 22-21. Both teams made their substitution for bout seven as Irina Embrich brought Estonia level against Korea’s Lee Hyein. 24-24 turned to 26-26 going into the final bout where Estonia’s individual bronze medalist Lehis outscored Choi 10-6 to claim the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal.
Men’s Team Sabre
On Day Five of the Games Japan used three of their host nation places to form a team with Yoshida Kenta who qualified individually through the Asian zone. They took on Egypt in the incomplete round of 16 and fell behind at the start. Egypt went into the quarterfinals, winning 45-32.
World number one team Korea were Egypt’s next opponents and despite a tremendous performance from Mohab Samer, Korea progressed 45-39. The ROC versus Germany match was expected to be a close one but the Germans were more determined and led from the second leg until they won 45-28.
In the bottom half of the draw Italy were the favourites against Iran and led 40-33 going into the last fight. Ali Pakdaman scored a stunning 11 hits against Luca Curatoli to level at 44-44 but the Italian scraped over the line in the end. Hungary lived up to their billing and comfortably beat the USA 45-36.
In the first semi-final Germany continued to look strong and led Korea 15-11 after three fights. The Koreans fought back in the middle three but still trailed 30-29 with three fights remaining. They edged into a 40-37 lead going into the anchor leg when the Germans brought on their substitute, Richard Huebers. As bravely as he fought, Korea went through to the final 45-42.
In the second semi-final everyone was expecting Hungary to beat Italy to set up every neutral’s dream final and they led 15-11 after a third of the match. Italy brought in their substitute Aldo Montano who had won the individual title and team silver at the Athens Games in 2004, plus team bronze at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. He did his job and not only closed the gap by three points in his two legs but also lit a fire under his teammates who closed out a remarkable win 45-43.
Hungary lined up for the bronze medal match with Aron Szilagyi, Csanad Gemesi and Andras Szatmari but - because of the draw and their desire for Szilagyi to anchor, the three-time individual Olympic Champion had three matches between each of his matches. This is where the German team had to do some damage and they started with Richard Huebers, Max Hartung and Benedikt Wagner. Germany failed to capitalise and Hungary led 15-11 after three bouts and 30-16 after six. That 14-hit lead remained going into the anchor leg between Hartung and Szilagyi and what a leg it was. With nothing to lose, Hartung went on a run of hits and the Hungarian looked completely lost. In spite of Hartung’s amazing 14 hits, Szilagyi pushed Hungary over the line and to the Olympic bronze medal 45-40.
Italy, buoyed from their semi-final win, started with individual silver medalist Luca Curatoli, Aldo Montano and Enrico Berre - all looking determined. The Korean line-up of individual bronze medalist Kim Junghwan, Oh Sanguk and Gu Bongil knew gold was theirs if they could keep a lid on the pressure. The Korean built a 15-6 lead in the first third of the match which they extended to 30-17 in the middle. At 35-20 up going into the eighth leg, Korea were so confident that they brought on their substitute Kim Junho. He was as good as his teammates and left his anchor to finish things off with a 40-21 lead. Oh remained professional and took Korea to the Olympic title with a 45-26 victory.
Women’s Team Foil
The women’s team foil event took place on Day Six of the Games and the quarterfinals went with seeding. The ROC beat Egypt 45-21, the USA saw off Japan 45-36, France defeated Canada 45-29 and Italy overcame Hungary 45-32.
In the first semi-final the USA looked like they were going to cause a big upset, leading 30-26 with three legs remaining. Kiefer, the individual gold medalist, did most of the work to put them there. However, the Russians brought on substitute Marta Martyanova and she began the comeback leading to the ROC prevailing 45-42.
In the second semi-final it was France seeking to upset Italy but it didn’t look good. Going into leg seven Italy led 30-25 but the French closed the gap to 40-37 going into the anchor leg. On came Ysaora Thibus for France against Arianna Errigo and Thibus turned it around to win 45-43.
Hurt but still in for a medal, Italy lined up with Errigo, Martina Batini and Alice Volpi. They faced a game USA team who started with Nicole Ross, Lee Kiefer and Sabrina Massialas. Italy were very business-like in their approach and led 15-13 after three fights extending that to 30-20 after six. Their confidence was high and they brought in their substitute, Erica Cipressa, who won her only bout 5-1. Italy went on to seal their place on the podium with a 45-23 victory.
The ROC began the gold medal match with Larissa Korobeynikova, Inna Deriglazova and Marta Martyanova as France started with Ysaora Thibus, Anita Blaze and Pauline Ranvier. As expected, Russia started well leading 14-9 after the first third of the match. They also won the middle third and extended their lead to 30-20. Substitute Astrid Guyart was brought on by the French team but went down 5-1. Despite Ranvier and Thibus closing the Russians down the ROC claimed the gold medal 45-34.
Men’s Team Epee
Day Seven of the Games featured the men’s team epee event and it was no surprise that the home nation used three of their host nation places to create a team along with Yamada Masaru who had qualified through the individual Asian allocation. Ranked fourth in the World, they were always going to be a threat as the USA discovered in the incomplete round of 16. Despite trailing by some way going into the last three bouts, Japan took the win.
World number one team France were their victims and again Japan came from behind to knock out one of the favourites. Also in the quarterfinals, China handled Ukraine, the ROC team took out number two seed Italy and Korea saw off Switzerland.
In the first semi-final Japan took a commanding 11-1 lead after three legs and never looked back taking the victory 45-38. Despite a slow start in the other semi-final, the ROC team wrestled the lead away from Korea in the fourth bout and went on to win 45-38.
The all-Asian bronze medal play-off saw Korea lined up with Kweon Youngjun, 2016 Olympic Champion Park Sangyoung and Song Jaeho. They took on China who started with Dong Chao, Lan Minghao and Wang Zijie. Korea edged the first third of the match to take a 9-8 lead but China fought back in the middle third to steal a 27-23 lead. The Korean pair of Song and Kweon drew level at 34-34 going into the final bout where Park outscored Dong 11-8 to take the bronze medal for Korea 45-42.
Favourites from the ROC team lined up with Sergey Bida, Nikita Glazkov and Pavel Suhkov. They faced a Japanese team, in search of their first medal on the piste at the Games, who started with Yamada Masaru, Kano Koki and Uyama Satoru. The Japanese trio led 13-11 after three legs. The Russians closed up in the middle three bouts but still trailed 28-25. Japan applied the pressure in the final three legs and Kano anchored them to Olympic gold, winning 45-36. A victory that saw Japan achieve their highest medal count of any Olympic
Women’s Team Sabre
Japan elected to utilize their host nation spots to make a women’s sabre team, adding Tamura Norika, Aoki Chika and Fukushima Shihomi to the already qualified Emura Misaki. They proved far too strong for African qualifiers Tunisia, beating the 45-29 to make the quarterfinals.
The top eight knocked out went with seeding as the ROC beat Japan 45-34, Korea defeated Hungary 45-40, France comfortably knocked out the USA 45-30 and Italy had a scare but eventually overcame China 45-41.
In the semi-final between the ROC and Korea, the Russians got off to a great start leading 15-10 and then crushed the Koreans 15-4 in the middle third, going on to win 45-26. The other semi-final between France and Italy turned out to be a cracker. France led 15-9 and 30-14 before Italy brought on their substitute. Michela Battiston came on in the seventh leg against Charlotte Lembach and scored 18 hits to the French fencer’s five. Italy were back in it but Brunet and Berder saw it out, winning 45-39.
In the bronze medal match Korea began with Kim Jiyeon, Seo Jiyeon and Yoon Jisu against Italy who lined up with Irene Vecchi, Rosella Gregorio and Michela Battiston. The Italians edged the first third to lead 15-13 and extended their lead in the middle to 30-26. Seo went on a rampage in the seventh leg scoring nine hits to put the Koreans in the lead 35-33. Yoon and Kim carried Korea to the Olympic bronze 45-42.
A thrilling gold medal match saw France line up with Manon Brunet, Cecilia Berder and Charlotte Lembach against the ROC who began with Olga Nikitina, Sofia Pozdniakova and Sofya Velikaya. The draw saw the Russian put Nikitina on first and last to avoid big gaps between her teammates fights. France led 15-13 after three legs but Nikitina went on an 11-3 run in the fifth and Russia led 30-24 with three fights to go. France brough in substitute Sara Balzer in the seventh but Russia increased their lead. Nikitina went into the anchor leg against Berder with a six-hit lead and took the Russian team to Olympic gold, 45-41.
Men’s Team Foil
Japan used the last of their host nation places to make up a men’s foil team. Shikine Takahiro had qualified through the Asian individual quota and was joined by Saito Toshiya, Matsuyama Kyosuke and Nagano Yudai. Their ranking meant that Germany faced Canada in the incomplete round of 16 and beat them comfortably 45-31.
The Germans then lost to fancied gold medalist the USA 45-36 in the quarterfinals, whilst France beat Egypt 45-34 and the young ROC team beat Hong Kong 45-39. Perhaps the biggest shock of the tournament came in the other quarterfinal where Japan stunned Italy, winning 45-43.
In the first semi-final, the relatively unknown ROC team took on favourites the USA. It was tight but the USA led 15-13 and 30-39 going into the final third. The Russians picked the American’s pockets though - winning 45-41. In the other semi-final, Japan led France 15-11 after three legs but the French fought back to lead 30-28 after six. Despite the brilliance of Matsuyama in the anchor leg, France won 45-42.
In the bronze medal match the USA lined up with Alexander Massialas, Race Imboden and Gerek Meinhardt against the plucky Japanese team, Shikine Takahiro, Matsuyama Kyosuke and Nagano Yudai. It was a relatively comfortable victory for the USA who led 15-11 and 30-22, before going on to claim their spot on the Olympic podium 45-31.
The gold medal match featured the French trio of Erwann Le Pechoux, Julien Mertine and Enzo Lefort against the ROC who started with Anton and Kirill Borodachev plus 2016 Olympic silver medalist Timur Safin. The French team were far too strong for the Russians, scoring 15-8 and 28-21 up, going into the final three legs. Erwann Le Pechoux anchored France to the Olympic gold 45-28, claiming France’s first men’s team foil Olympic title since Sydney 2000.
With the world in such a difficult place, Tokyo provided a perfect reminder of why we love fencing. Upsets and glory abounded but the most telling thing was the change. With everyone around the globe in isolation the sport has developed in pockets and in different ways. Who knows if the new season will be able to start on schedule? What we do know is that, when it does, the deck has been well and truly shuffled.
