Paris 2024 fencing: All results, as Italy wins gold women’s team epee

Italy dashed the fencing hopes of host nation France, taking gold in the women’s team epee final at the Grand Palais on Tuesday 30 July in Olympics Games Paris 2024.

A dramatic duel saw both teams lead at various stages of the gold-medal match. However, Italy emerged victorious after Alberta Santuccio scored a decisive touch against France’s Auriane Mallo-Breton in overtime.

“It’s been emotional, especially here on this stage where we have all the French fans against us,” said Santuccio. “I was able to get stronger because of that. I had only one goal: to make that green light go off.”

There were times that seemed nearly impossible for the Italian team of Santuccio, Guilia Rizzi, Rossella Fiamingo and Mara Navarria, as they struggled to touch the exquisite French team of Mallo-Breton, Marie-Florence Candassamy, Coraline Vitalis and Alexandra Louis-Marie.

Santuccio got the team off to a positive start with her 3-2 performance against Candassamy. However, Italy soon fell behind the French, with Fiamingo and Navarria giving up five unanswered touches.

Nonetheless, the Italians continued to fight, clawing back to even with the French team thanks to strong periods from Navarria and Rizzi.

They celebrated together on the piste after Santuccio scored her decisive touch.

“I hope that many little boys and girls can approach fencing and like us dream big,” said Navarria. “Because if tonight I have this gold medal around my neck, it's because with work, sacrifice and a lot of heart you can achieve a lot.”

It was a heartbreaking silver medal for the French, who could taste gold for much of the match.

“We were one touch away from gold,” said Mallo-Breton. “There is some deception. The last seconds, I don’t know why my arm was there. I don’t how she managed the touch. But we have no regrets. We fought until the end. We were really supportive towards each other and united.”

The crowd was also very supportive of the home team, setting the tone for the match with chants of “allez les bleus” and a spontaneous rendition of “La Marseillaise.”

“The public was incredible,” said Mallo-Breton. “They supported us from the beginning to the end. It was crazy, and I really thank them.”

Poland joined Italy and France on the podium after their own overtime victory over the People’s Republic of China in the bronze-medal match.

A confusing sequence saw China take the lead by one touch with four seconds left in the match. However, Aleksandra Jarecka fought back, scoring her own touch with two seconds left in the match, before scoring a decisive touch in overtime.

It was Poland’s first ever medal in the women’s team epee event, with Jarecka, Renata Knapik-Miazga, Martyna Swatowska-Wenglarczyk and Alicja Klasik receiving bronze medals.

Fencing: Women’s team epee podium

Gold: Italy

Silver: France

Bronze: Poland