Thrilling finals conclude a week of excellence at the 48th World Military Fencing Championship in Spain

SEVILLE (ESP) - The city of Seville lived its final day of fencing glory as the curtains closed on the 48th World Military Fencing Championship. The last day was entirely dedicated to the individual finals, where military athletes from across the globe fought for their place on the podium. The atmosphere in the Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo was charged with intensity, pride, and the spirit of CISM’s motto, “Friendship through Sport.”

In the men’s individual sabre competition, Poland celebrated a remarkable triumph as Szymon Hryciuk secured the gold medal. His performance combined speed and precision, allowing him to overcome Italy’s Mattia Rea, who had fenced with tremendous consistency throughout the championship but had to settle for silver. Another Polish fencer, Olaf Stasiak, completed the podium with bronze, highlighting the strength of the Polish sabre school.

The women’s individual épée final was dominated by Vlada Kharkova of Ukraine, who showed remarkable tactical discipline and resilience to claim gold for her country. Angeline Favre of Switzerland fought bravely but had to concede in the final bout, taking the silver medal. France’s Camille Nabeth rounded out the podium with bronze after an impressive run that saw her defeat several strong opponents in the earlier rounds.

Italy’s Camilla Mancini brought her nation another golden moment in the women’s individual foil. Mancini, already known on the world stage as a team world champion in Leipzig 2017, once again confirmed her class by delivering a nearly flawless performance in Seville. In the final, she overcame France’s Ysaora Thibus, herself an Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo 2021 and a former world champion in foil, who displayed all her experience and finesse but could not surpass the Italian on this occasion. France nevertheless celebrated double podium success in foil as Pauline Ranvier secured the bronze medal, proving the continuing depth of French fencing.

Belgium also had its moment of glory when Neisser Loyola rose to the top of the men’s individual épée. Loyola, who had already earned a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships in Cairo, confirmed his international calibre by defeating Poland’s Mateusz Antkiewicz in a hard-fought final. The Ukrainian Levgen Makiienko completed the podium with bronze. Loyola’s victory was particularly symbolic for Belgium, adding a prestigious world military title to a career already marked by success on the civilian international stage.

In the women’s individual sabre, France’s Sarah Noutcha crowned her rise to prominence with a superb victory in Seville. Noutcha, a recent world team champion and an athlete who has also represented France on the Olympic stage, displayed remarkable confidence and flair to defeat Italy’s Rossella Gregorio in the final. Gregorio, one of the most experienced fencers of the championship with numerous World Cup victories and medals at world and European level, fought fiercely but was forced to settle for silver. Another Italian, Rebecca Gargano, earned bronze, giving Italy another reason to celebrate.

The men’s individual foil event concluded the competition in spectacular fashion. Italy’s Giulio Lombardi, fencing with exceptional accuracy, captured the gold medal and ensured that Italy would leave Seville with yet another crown. Jan Jurkiewicz of Poland claimed the silver medal after an impressive run, while Hungary’s Daniel Dosa secured the bronze medal, confirming once again the strength of Central European foil fencing traditions.

The final day of the 48th World Military Fencing Championship not only showcased new champions but also reminded the world of the enduring brilliance of athletes who have already made their mark at the highest levels of Olympic and World Championship competition. The presence of fencers like Camilla Mancini, Ysaora Thibus, Rossella Gregorio, and Neisser Loyola elevated the championship, linking the military sporting tradition with the very pinnacle of international fencing.

As part of the closing ceremony, the Friendship through Sport Award was presented by CISM Partner A5, with France receiving this prestigious recognition for its exemplary spirit of solidarity and fair play throughout the championship.

As the lights dimmed in the Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, the International Military Sports Council (CISM) paid tribute to the organisers and the Spanish Delegation to CISM. Throughout the entire week, CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim was present in Seville, attending the competitions, supporting the athletes and engaging with delegations. At the closing, he expressed his admiration for the outstanding level of organisation, praising the Spanish Delegation to CISM and the local organisers for their professionalism, hospitality and commitment. His words echoed the gratitude felt by all participants towards Spain, which once again demonstrated its capacity to host world-class sporting events.

With thanks extended to Spain for hosting a memorable championship, the fencing community within CISM now turns its eyes to the next rendezvous. The 49th World Military Championship in Modern Pentathlon will take place from 22 to 29 September 2025 in Drzonków, Poland. Athletes and delegations are already preparing for another week of competition, camaraderie, and the celebration of friendship through sport.

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

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department & http://cism-48wmcfencing.es/news)