Fencing: the European Championships, a crossing point before the Olympic Games

There will be an air from Paris to Basel in Switzerland during the European Fencing Championships. Placed less than 40 days before the start of the 2024 Olympic Games, this continental event will allow the French team to test themselves, but also for individual shooters to do the essentials. “We are going to gain experience, and important points for the Games table“, whispers the Guadeloupean Enzo Lefort. Never won an individual title in this event – ​​last year, he fell in the final against the Italian Filipo Macchi – the 32-year-old foil fencer will not let himself get carried away in the event of a bad result.” I’ve seen guys perform at the European Championships and fail at the Olympics and vice versa. With my experience, I know that in this sport there are no rules, anything can happen, he tempers. I’m going to these championships to achieve the best result possible both individually and as a team.” As a great gold digger, Enzo Lefort would do well to adorn himself with a new medal during this event in order to further establish his dominance in his weapon.

During the media day organized by the French fencing federation last week at INSEP (The National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance) in Paris, she was at the center of all curiosities. Five months after her last official competition – the Paris World Cup at the beginning of January –, Ysaora Thibus is back. Determined as usual, the Guadeloupean put her heart into her work during her training exchanges with her compatriot Anita Blaze. Temporarily suspended after a positive test for Ostarine, the 32-year-old foilist remained on the sidelines for a long time. So much so that the 2022 world champion has fallen very low in the world rankings, 33rd, far from her usual standards. Driven by a desire for revenge since the announcement of her non-suspension, she returns to the circuit with the desire to fight and prove to all those who had buried her that the lion sleeping inside her is not dead.

Not yet selected for the Paris Games – the selection of foilists will be known at the beginning of July – Anita Blaze is in the same state of mind as Ysaora Thibus. Individually, the Guadeloupean will try to score points as the official list for the Olympics approaches and why not also win her first major tournament. As a team, the foilists are European vice-champions, so they will be keen to try to trip up the Italian selection, masters in the field and favorite for the summer meeting.

Apart from the women’s foilists, all the other Olympic selections are known, enough to free the athletes before the continental event? Not really. Among the tricolor swordsmen, one crisis can breed another. After internal tensions between certain athletes including the Guadeloupean Yannick Borel and the team manager Hugues Obry, it was the announcement of the official selection for the Paris 2024 Games which sowed discord. Not selected in the group, Alexandre Bardenet contacted the CNOSF to contest his non-selection for the Games – He believes that his absence is due to extra-sporting reasons.

Yes, but now, his misfortune brings happiness to Guadeloupean Luidgi Midelton who will experience his first Olympics. And at home. Yannick Borel repeatedly repeated that “everything is fine, the atmosphere is healthy in the group“It’s hard to imagine that this weapon is in the best conditions to prepare for the summer meeting. These European Championships will be a good indicator for judging the strengths and weaknesses of this team in the situation.”What happens next I ignore, jI’m already busy in my Olympic preparation. I’m going to go to this competition [championnat d’Europe, NDLR] with the desire to win, but my goal still remains to win both medals at the Games, as an individual and as a team.” announces swordsman Luidgi Midelton.

Absent in 2023 due to injury, Yannick Borel was unable to defend his title. Back this year in full possession of his means, the Guadeloupean will arrive at these European Championships with the aim of refining his preparation for the Olympic Games. “I still have a few things to sort out, but that’s okay. The European Championships are coming, but the final objective remains the Games and I am aware of that.”

If I win the European Championships and I miss the games, everyone will only remember that, so I haven’t disrupted my preparation for this event, on the contrary, it fits in

Already titled four times in this event, the 35-year-old swordsman will not hesitate if he can win a fifth title, even if that is not his primary objective upon arriving in Basel. “If I win, I will take it as a bonus, but if I really want to make history, it will happen at the Olympics“.

The French women’s epee team does not have the same problems as the men’s. Led by a contingent of West Indians, the selection advances as favorites for these European championships. With two titles to defend, they will be eagerly awaited in this continental competition. World number 2 and reigning world champion, West Indian Marie-Florence Candassamy will be the leader of this weapon. “I am calm before this ordeal. We train hard, so it helps the team stay focused on the goals ahead” she assures. The objectives which present themselves to the blue are numerous, including the defense of their team title. They could win their fifth coronation in a row. But as in the other French teams, the Olympic Games remain in everyone’s heads.“We are focused on the Games, but we are going to these European Championships to find our automatisms. This season, we have not had many opportunities to get together as a team because of injuries”says Coraline Vitalis.

Selected to be a substitute during the Paris 2024 Games, Martinican Alexandra Louis-Marie is coming to these championships with the idea of ​​defending her title acquired last year. “JI’m approaching this event calmly, focused, I’m already thinking about the games, but I still have my titles to defend“, she warns. Disordered but sure of its strengths, the French team could grant itself a nice harvest of medals at these European Championships, just to give itself a nice breath of fresh air after this complicated year at more than one floor. Then the time will come to get into Olympic time and point the gun towards the Grand Palais.