48th WMC Fencing - Summary News

SEVILLE (ESP) - The 48th CISM World Military Fencing Championship unfolded in Seville from 15 to 21 September 2025, marking a historic moment for both Spain and the International Military Sports Council. For the first time, the event was hosted on Spanish soil, transforming the Andalusian capital into a global meeting point for military fencers from seventeen nations. Organized by the Spanish Air and Space Force with the support of CISM and the Seville City Council, the championship became a celebration of sporting excellence, tradition and the values that unite the armed forces of the world.

The opening presentation in the iconic Plaza de San Francisco set the tone for a week rich in emotion and competition. CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim, together with Seville’s Delegate for Sports Silvia Pozo and Lieutenant General Fernando Torres San José, highlighted the importance of the event for military sport and for the city. Over the course of the week, the Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo welcomed two hundred and fifty military athletes competing in épée, foil and sabre across individual and team categories for both men and women. Among those walking onto the pistes were Olympic medallists, world champions and top-level fencers who proudly represent their armed forces in international competition.

This edition introduced two important milestones. It marked the first time that CISM’s fencing world championship was held in Spain and, in an equally significant moment, hosted CISM’s first-ever wheelchair fencing exhibition on 20 September. Spanish champions Carlos Soler Márquez of the Air and Space Force and Gustavo Molina Martínez of the Army led the demonstration, showcasing the growing commitment of the international military sports community to inclusion and accessibility. Colonel Pedro Díaz Herrero stressed that this initiative represented a decisive step towards a more open and integrative vision of sport within the armed forces.

The city of Seville also reaffirmed its reputation as a major sports destination. The San Pablo arena, already experienced in hosting European and world-level championships in basketball, handball, swimming and rhythmic gymnastics, added military fencing to its roster of elite events. As Silvia Pozo reminded participants, fencing embodies discipline, respect and precision, values that resonate deeply with the city’s spirit and its longstanding dedication to sport. Sustainability also played an important role, with measures implemented to reduce plastic use, encourage shared mobility and promote responsible event management.

As competition progressed, Italy and Ukraine emerged as the dominant nations in the team events. Italy asserted its strength in sabre, winning both the men’s and women’s team titles with commanding performances. The women’s sabre team, led by world champion Rossella Gregorio, stood out as one of the most impressive formations of the week. Ukraine took centre stage in the men’s team épée event, overcoming a formidable Hungarian side, before Italy regained supremacy in the women’s épée. Other nations also shone brightly, with Poland winning the men’s foil and Hungary confirming its tradition in women’s foil.

Beyond the results, the championship honoured one of CISM’s most meaningful traditions. The Gift Exchange, held at the Hotel Silken, brought together the Chiefs of Mission for a moment of dialogue and goodwill. The ceremony represented more than the exchange of symbolic gifts. It was a reaffirmation of the principles of respect, unity and international understanding that have guided CISM since its founding. Colonel Nilton Rolim described the event as a reflection of the Council’s deepest values and encouraged all delegations to continue upholding this important tradition.

The championship reached its emotional peak on the final day, dedicated entirely to the individual events. The finals delivered thrilling performances and crowned new champions who added military titles to achievements already earned on the world stage. Poland celebrated in the men’s sabre with a brilliant victory from Szymon Hryciuk. Ukraine’s Vlada Kharkova claimed the women’s épée title with poise and tactical mastery. Italy’s Camilla Mancini confirmed her world-class pedigree by winning the women’s foil, defeating Olympic medallist Ysaora Thibus in a final of exceptional technical quality. Belgium enjoyed a moment of historic triumph with Neisser Loyola’s victory in the men’s épée, a result that added new prestige to an already distinguished international career. France closed the individual programme with a superb victory by Sarah Noutcha in the women’s sabre, defeating Italy’s Rossella Gregorio and reaffirming France’s strength in this discipline. Italy’s Giulio Lombardi then secured the men’s foil title, ensuring another gold medal for the Italian delegation.

At the closing ceremony, France received the Friendship through Sport Award offered by CISM Partner A5, in recognition of the exemplary sportsmanship shown throughout the week. CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim, who attended the entire championship, praised the Spanish Delegation to CISM and the local organisers for their professionalism and hospitality. He noted that Spain had once again demonstrated its exceptional capability to host world-class events, both in organisational quality and in the warmth with which it welcomed participants.

As the lights dimmed in the Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, the 48th World Military Fencing Championship concluded as a celebration of excellence, unity and the enduring bond between military sport and global friendship. Delegations left Seville enriched by both the competition and the human connections forged throughout the week. The fencing community now turns its attention to the next major gathering, the 49th CISM World Military Championship in Modern Pentathlon, scheduled to take place in Drzonków, Poland, from 22 to 29 September 2025, where the spirit of Friendship through Sport will once again bring the world’s military athletes together.

For more information and real-time updates, visit www.cism-48wmcfencing.es . Full results are available on: https://engarde-service.com/tournament/cism/48th