Victories, Emotions and a Confident Start to the U23 European Fencing Championships in Tallinn
The 2025 edition of the U23 European Fencing Championships opened with energy and elegance in Tallinn, Estonia, where the first day brought a wave of triumph, emotion and promising performances. With three individual titles awarded in men’s épée, women’s sabre and women’s foil, the European fencing community witnessed rising stars shine brightly on the piste — and for some, Tallinn proved to be a particularly lucky place.
Men’s Épée: A Golden Day for Switzerland
Switzerland claimed a dominant position in the men’s épée final, with Ian Hauri taking the gold after an intense day of fencing. His victory over compatriot Sven Vineis crowned a day full of mental focus and physical endurance. Bronze medals went to Israel’s Alon Sarid and France’s Paul Fortin, who both showed impressive form throughout the draw.
After the final, Hauri shared his thoughts in a moment of joyful fatigue.
“I don’t know if there’s a secret,” he smiled. “I just try to enjoy the sport, train hard, keep peace in my mind, and trust the process. That balance is working for me.”
When asked to describe the day in three words, the Swiss champion paused before replying with a grin:
“Happy. Tired. And — ‘paf’. It’s a French word that means something like 'beyond happy', when you're exhausted and overwhelmed in the best way.”
Hauri also paid tribute to his coach and a close clubmate, who inspired him to give his all.
“My coach really helped me, he’s always pushing me, and one of my best friends made the final too. We train together, study together, and fenced each other in the first round — it was really special.”
Women’s Sabre: Mouroux Leads a French 1–2 Finish
In the women’s sabre event, France celebrated a double podium as Mathilde Mouroux took the title ahead of teammate Toscane Tori. Italy’s Benedetta Fusetti and Manuela Spica shared the third step after strong performances in the elimination rounds.
Mouroux, glowing with pride, kept her approach simple:
“It feels very great,” she said after becoming U23 European Champion. “I just told myself to take pleasure in every moment. Every time I relaxed and enjoyed the fencing, things went better.”
When asked what moment she’ll treasure the most, she didn’t hesitate:
“Right after the semifinal. That was when I knew I had a medal. It was the most important thing in the day — the moment I felt I could win.”
For Mouroux, the championship in Tallinn was not only about the gold, but also about sharing it with the people around her — “my friends, my team” — making the day even more meaningful.
Women’s Foil: Amore Keeps Her Tallinn Streak Alive
Tallinn seems to hold a special kind of magic for Giulia Amore. Two years after claiming her first Junior World Championship title here, the Italian foil fencer returned to the Estonian capital and clinched another major win — this time, as U23 European Champion. She overcame Ukraine’s Olga Sopit in the final, while Sweden’s Miriam Schreiber and France’s Emmie Nayl earned bronze.
“It’s true — Tallinn is lucky for me!” said Amore. “Two years ago I won my first Junior European Championships here. And now this. I’m really happy.”
Her day wasn’t without challenges, but her mindset saw her through.
“I started slow, but match after match I felt better. For the final, I told myself: ‘This is your last match — take every bit of energy you have and put it all out there.’”
Her biggest support? Her family.
“My mom (Diana Bianchedi) is a two-time Olympic champion, and my dad was a fencer too. They weren’t here today, but they followed me from home and sent all their love.”
Asked how she planned to celebrate, Amore laughed:
“Nothing big — the team event is coming up in two days! Maybe just a small toast with friends, and then we focus again.”
A Confident Opening for the EFC
The atmosphere in Tallinn impressed not only athletes and coaches, but also the leadership of the European Fencing Confederation. EFC President Pascal Tesch shared his impressions at the close of the first day.
“It’s been a great start. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the organization is really strong,” said Tesch. “Some innovations we introduced in Antalya — like the medal ceremony — have become even more polished here.”
He emphasized the Confederation’s continued efforts to modernize and evolve.
“We’re continuing our path — trying to make things more streamlined and modern. We’re happy with the foundation, and now we focus on the tiny details. Because in fencing, it’s always the small things that make the biggest difference.”
As the championships continue, Tallinn is once again proving itself to be a stage where Europe’s future champions rise. The next few days will bring more team and individual events, and with them, new stories, emotions, and unforgettable moments on the piste.
For full results and live updates, visit:
https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/AB97334DEA4A45D58CD445B7F8B1F2B3#today
Livestream available on https://www.youtube.com/@FencingEFC/streams
