As we journey through the Olympic fencing disciplines, let’s look deeply at the Men’s Foil event in this blog post. Foil fencing is known for its lightning-fast exchanges and complex right-of-way rules, making it a thrilling spectacle for viewers and a chess match at high speed for the fencers.

The Men’s Foil Individual competition is scheduled for July 29, 2024, and the team competition is scheduled for August 4, 2024, at the Paris Olympic Games. Let’s look at some of the top contenders and rising stars to watch. Each of these fencers has the potential to claim gold or a medal, and the competition promises to be fierce. These Olympic Games will undoubtedly create some history, like Tokyo’s first-ever Hong Kong Gold medal (or any other medal). Several undisputed leaders in foil include 3 Americans (Meinheardt, Massialas, and Itkin), Italian Marini, French Lefort, and reining Olympic Champion Cheung from Hong Kong. But remember, in fencing, everyone can win, and often, that’s what happens. 

Men’s Foil Individual Event

Tommaso Marini (Italy) – World Rank: 1

At just 24, Marini represents the new generation of Italian foil fencing. This tall, slim, right-handed fencer has been making waves on the international circuit since his junior years. The highest ranking he achieved in Juniors was #1. Still, he never won the Junior title, losing in the 2018 Junior World Championship final bout to American’s Itkin (more about him below). Yet, five years later, in his home country, Italy, Marini revenged Itkin in the 2023 World Championship in Milan by winning the title against his primary rival.

Key Achievements:

• 2023 World Champion
• 2022 World Championship Team Gold medalist and Individual silver medalist
• 2024 European Champion in Individual event and 2022 and 2023 European Team Champion
• Four-time World Cup winner
• Multiple Grand Prix medals

Marini’s rise has been meteoric, culminating in his World Championship title in 2023. His aggressive style and recent form make him a serious contender for Olympic gold. Can he continue Italy’s strong tradition in men’s foil and bring home the Olympic title?

Nick Itkin (USA) – World Rank: 1

At 24, Itkin has established himself as the world’s top-ranked men’s foil fencer, and he’s just starting. This right-handed American has been on a meteoric rise since his junior years. He claimed the Junior World title in 2018, winning his constant rival, Italian Marini, and he has been in the top 10 ranked world fencers on a senior circuit every year since then.

Key Achievements:

• Silver medal at the 2023 World Championships
• Bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships
• Gold medal at the 2024 Pan American Championships
• Bronze medal in team event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix medals

Itkin’s consistency at the highest senior level is remarkable. He became the first U.S. man and third U.S. fencer to win individual medals at back-to-back World Championships. His recent victories show he’s in top form heading into the Olympics. Could he bring the USA its first individual Olympic gold in men’s foil since 1904? With his current trajectory, Itkin is one of the top contenders for the medal, especially if we look at his progress at the world’s highest competition based on the laws of math: since he won Bronze in the World Championships in 2022, Silver in 2023, it should be Gold in the Olympic Games in 2024, right? Well, at least I wish this would be the formula 🙂

As the USA has hosted the Foil Fencing Grand Prix for many years, I’ve been attending each edition of this prestigious competition. My opinion is that these two fencers, Itkin and Marini, are the ones who are going to make massive history in the world of fencing competitions in the next decade. While it’s impossible to forecast their results, it is clear to me that these two will be the ones who dictate the direction of fencing in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Olympic final between these two young and excellent athletes, and of course, being American-biased, I will root for Itkin to win.

Edgar Cheung Ka-long (Hong Kong) – World Rank: 2

At 27, Cheung is the reigning Olympic champion and a true star of Hong Kong fencing. This left-handed fencer has been dominant since his historic gold medal in Tokyo. Interestingly, despite having some decent results pre-Olympics in Tokyo, he considered himself to be ‘nobody’ compared to the big fencing names, and it seems that winning Olympic Gold gave him a massive boost of self-confidence. 

Key Achievements:

• Tokyo 2020 (2021) Olympic Champion
• Two-time individual Asian champion (2016 and 2022)
• Bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships
• Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix victories, including 2024 wins in Turin and Shanghai

Cheung made history in Tokyo by becoming the first Hong Kong athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing. His continued success since then, including two recent Grand Prix victories in 2024 alone, shows he’s not resting on his laurels. Can he defend his Olympic title in Paris? The pressure will be immense as he is not ‘nobody’ anymore, and at least a dozen or more fencers aim to take this title off him. However, Cheung has shown that he can perform when it matters most.

Enzo Lefort (France) – World Rank: 5

At 32, an undisputable leader of the French team, Lefort is one of the field’s most experienced, accomplished, and, in my opinion, the most decorated fencer. Two-time Individual World Champion and Tokyo Olympics Team Champion, this right-handed French fencer has it all except the Individual Olympic medal. But he will have the home crowd behind him in Paris.

Key Achievements:

• Two-time individual World Champion (2019 and 2022) and one-time team World Champion (2014)
• 2021 team Olympic Champion
• 2016 team Olympic silver medalist
• Five times team European Champion
• Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix medals

Lefort’s experience and success on the biggest stages make him a formidable opponent. He’ll undoubtedly be under pressure to perform at home, but his track record suggests he thrives under such conditions, especially with the home crowd likely to give him an extra boost. Can he add an individual Olympic gold to his impressive collection of medals?

Alexander Massialas (USA) – World Rank: 7

At 30, Massialas is one of the most experienced and decorated fencers in the field and the most accomplished fencer in the USA. He is the only one on the American team to medal in the Olympic Games individually, and his list of results is nothing short of impressive. Just take a look at some of his key achievements:

• 2016 Olympic silver medalist (individual)
• Two-time Olympic bronze medalist (team) in Rio and Tokyo
• 2019 team World Champion
• 2015 individual Silver World Championship medalist
• With multiple World Cup and Grand Prix victories, it is two dozen podium finishes!
• Two-time individual Pan-American Champion and infinite times Pan-American team champion

This right-handed American has been a fixture on the international circuit for over a decade and is renowned for pulling matches from impossible situations. I watched more than once how he overcame a 6- or 7-point deficit and still won the decisive point – that’s how stable he mentally is! And he loves the Parisian crowd – he topped the world’s Most Prestigious World Cup in Paris (called Challenge International de Paris, or CIP as fencers call it short) twice in his career and another two times finished with a Bronze medal. With his experience and eagerness to win, he will be one of the trophy’s major contenders.

Gerek Meinhardt (USA) – World Rank: 12

At 33, Meinhardt is the elder statesman of the U.S. team and the person who started the unstoppable march of the USA foil fencing team toward some of the world’s best results. He was the first among our current American team to step on the World podium in 2007 and paved the way for others, so today, the USA men’s foil team is among the major contenders at any competition.

This right-handed fencer brings a wealth of experience to his fifth (!) Olympic Games – his first one was in Beijing in 2008 when, at age 17, he was the youngest male athlete in the USA delegation.

Key Achievements:

• Two-time Olympic bronze medalist (team)
• 2019 team World Champion
• Four-time individual Pan American Champion and an infinite number of team titles
• 18 Grand Prix and World Cup medals, including 5 Grand Prix Golds

Meinhardt’s consistency over the years is remarkable. His experience and tactical acumen make him a dangerous opponent for any fencer. Could he cap off his illustrious career with an individual Olympic medal? Well, I definitely hope so!

Interesting fact – Meinhardt is married to American foil fencer Lee Kiefer, Olympic Champion from Tokyo, and if he wins Gold, they will become the first married couple to win Gold in the Olympic Games in fencing. And, of course, we all love such unique stories – this would be a story to talk about long after the Olympics!

Alexander Choupenitch (Czech Republic) – World Rank: 14

At 30 years old, Choupenitch is the standard-bearer for Czech fencing on the international stage. He is among the most eager fencers to medal there, gaining confidence since his Bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Choupenitch was always a decent fencer, but he never won a significant competition other than a bunch of Satelite World Cups (Satelite World Cups in fencing are smaller competitions that usually attract lower-ranked fencers (lower here is not in the top 16)  as they award only a fraction of points compared to the regular World Cups). His Tokyo medal gave him enough confidence to believe in himself, and this year, he showed some top finishes, culminating in a European Championships Bronze medal.

Key Achievements:

• Bronze medal at the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics
• Silver medal at the 2014 World Cup
• Two bronze medals at the European Championships (2018 and 2024)
• Multiple Grand Prix medals, including silvers in 2015 and 2024 and bronzes in 2014 and 2023

Standing at an impressive 1.96m (6 ft 5 in), Choupenitch brings a unique physical presence to the piste. His Olympic bronze in Tokyo was a historic achievement for Czech fencing, the country’s first Olympic fencing medal since 1908. This breakthrough has likely boosted his and foil fencing’s profile in the Czech Republic.

His recent European Championship bronze in 2024 indicates that he’s maintaining his form heading into the Paris Olympics. The biggest question is, will his confidence be enough to build on his success in Tokyo and medal again? A medal for Choupenitch would not only be a personal triumph but would also continue to elevate fencing status in the Czech Republic.

Other Fencers to Watch

Many other notable fencers are competing at these Olympics, from seasoned veterans, such as 33 years old 2012 London Olympic Games Individual Silver Medalist Egyptian Alaaeldin Abouelkassem, who will attend his 4th Olympic Games, to 20 years old Japanese foilist Kazuki Ilmura, who is making his initial strides in the Senior circuit. Some of the most notable fencers in this field are:

Filippo Macchi (Italy) – World Rank: 13

At 22, Macchi is one of the youngest top-ranked fencers in the field. He has been making a name for himself on the senior circuit with his 2023 European Championship win and medals at two Grand Prix and the World Cup.

Kyosuke Matsuyama (Japan) – World Rank: 7

At 27, Matsuyama has steadily climbed ranks and is now Japan’s top foil fencer. The Japanese had an exceptional team in the past, led by legendary Yuki Ota (who had the fastest hand, in my opinion), Individual (Bejing), and Team  (London) Olympic Silver medalist and 2015 World Champion. The new generation of Japanese foil fencers seems to accept the torch and continue the tradition proudly. Matsuyama’s key achievements include an Individual Bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships, a Gold medal at the 2024 Asian Championships, and a Bronze medal at the 2024 Washington DC Grand Prix. Can he improve his Olympic performance from Tokyo and bring Japan a medal in men’s foil?

Kazuki Iimura (Japan) – World Rank: 9

At just 20 years old, Iimura represents the future of Japanese foil fencing. This right-handed fencer started to announce his presence last season, taking Bronze in one Grand Prix this year, winning Silver in the latest 2024 Asian Championships, and making a couple of more top 8 finishes in the World Cups.

Guillaume Bianchi (Italy) – World Rank: 10

At 26, Bianchi is part of the Italian solid foil contingent. He’s been part of the Italian National travel team for some time now, but only in the last year or two has he started to make strides on the international scene with two podium finishes just this year, including Gold in a World Cup, and winning Bronze in 2023 European Championships.

Alaaeldin Abouelkassem (Egypt) – World Rank: 33

At 33 years old, Abouelkassem is not just the face of Egyptian fencing but a trailblazer for the entire African continent in the sport. This left-handed fencer has been a consistent force on the international stage for over a decade. While compared to many of his colleagues at the same age, he has fewer podium finishes in World Cups over the same period, he consistently has top 8 and 16 finishes during the season, making him a force to be reckoned with.

Key Achievements:

• Silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics
• First African fencer to win an Olympic medal in foil
• Gold medal at the 2022 Mediterranean Games
• 9 African Championship titles
• Consistent top-16 finishes in World Cups and Grand Prix events

Abouelkassem’s Olympic silver in London was a historic moment for African fencing. He became the first African fencer to reach an Olympic final in foil, breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation of fencers across the continent. His success has catalyzed the growth of fencing in Egypt and Africa as a whole.

As he approaches his fourth Olympic Games, Abouelkassem brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in major competitions. Can he recapture the magic of London and bring home another Olympic medal for Egypt? Regardless of the outcome, his presence in Paris is a testament to his longevity and the growing strength of Egyptian and African fencing.

Abouelkassem’s journey is more than personal achievement; it’s about representation and breaking boundaries. Every time he steps on the piste, he’s not just fencing for himself or Egypt but for the entire African continent. His performances in Paris will be closely watched by fencing enthusiasts and aspiring young athletes across Africa who see in him the possibility of international success in this sport. With some fencers switching their allegiance to African countries (for example, epee fencer Alexandra Ndolo representing Kenya and foil fencer Maxine Esteban representing Ivory Cost), the continent gets an additional boost to raise awareness and raise the sport’s profile.

These fencers represent the incredible depth and diversity of men’s foil fencing talent. The Olympic foil competition promises to showcase varied styles and strategies, from Olympic champions to young prodigies, left-handers, and right-handers. While in fencing, everything can happen, and history shows that ‘nobody’ can rise to the top, I think that the medals will be contested between three Americans (Massialas, Meinheardt, and Itkin), Italian Marini, and French Lefort.

Men’s Foil Team Event

Eight nations will compete in the team event in Paris. Here’s a breakdown based on team performance in the 2023-2024 season for the qualified countries:

Japan (World Rank: 1)

Japan has consistently performed in World Cups this season and secured their first-ever Gold at the 2023 World Championships in Milan. Led by Kyosuke Matsuyama and rising star Kazuki Iimura, Japan enters the Olympics as one of the favorites for team gold. The team, sweeping the podium with Gold-Silver-Bronze in the Asian Championships this season, is motivated to repeat last year’s top finish and improve on the historical Silver achieved in London. 

Italy (World Rank: 2)

Italy, a traditional powerhouse in men’s foil, claimed silver at the 2023 World Championships in Milan, losing to Japan. Interestingly, in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the match between Italy and Japan finished with the Italians winning the Gold, so the loss on their home turf will serve as additional motivation for the team. Italy is one of the most consistent countries in men’s foil and frequent world podiums.  With a talented roster including Tommaso Marini and Filippo Macchi, Italy will be looking to reclaim Olympic gold, a title they last won in 2012. The Italian team’s blend of youth and experience makes them strong contenders for the top spot on the podium.

USA (World Rank: 3)

The United States team has been on a steady rise for many years, with the team topping the world podiums many times. Just in this season, the USA frequented it a few times, including 1 Gold in the World Cup and Gold in the Pan American Championships. The same team, consisting of Alexander Massialas, Gerek Meinhardt, Nick Itkin, and Miles Chamley-Watson, won Bronze in Tokyo, and its three core members also won Bronze in Rio. The USA is the most experienced and synchronized team in the current competitive field, competing in this roster for most of the competitions in the last several years. Having won bronze in the previous two Olympics, the USA aims to upgrade its medal color in Paris. With the unfortunate lack of Daniel Garozzo among Italians, the USA is the primary contender for the Gold.

France (World Rank: 6)

As the host nation, France will be looking to capitalize on home advantage. Led by Enzo Lefort, the team secured gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and will be eager to defend its title. While its World Cup performances have been mixed this season, the French team always rises to the occasion in major championships. The French coach entrusted the most experienced French fencers to fight for the coveted Gold. The team roster features 3 Tokyo Olympic Champions. While, except for Enzo Lefort, the other fencers didn’t achieve any significant international results in the last two seasons, their experience as the team is fantastic, and we should expect a good showing from them. The home crowd support could be the extra boost it needs to retain its Olympic crown.

Egypt (World Rank: 8)

Egypt has been making significant strides in men’s foil, consistently finishing in the top 8 in World Cups this season. Led by the experienced Alaaeldin Abouelkassem and featuring another young but excellent fencer, American-raised 23-year-old Muhamed Hamza, who is world-ranked #4, Egyptians can suddenly pose a serious threat to anyone. While they may not be favorites for gold, their recent performances show they can compete with the world’s best. A strong showing in Paris could inspire a new generation of fencers across Africa.

China (World Rank: 4)

China has shown strong form this season, winning silver at the 2023 World Championships in Milan. The 2023 World Championship in Milan was the first time no European country medaled, with Japan, China, and Hong Kong taking the Gold, Silver and Bronze. They’ve had consistent finishes in World Cups, demonstrating their depth and consistency. While they may not have the same high-profile names as some other teams, their teamwork and tactical acumen make them a threat to any opponent. China will be looking to improve on their 4th-place finish from Tokyo.

Poland (World Rank: 9)

Poland rounds out the field with solid performances throughout the season, enough to secure them the most challenging European spot to qualify for the Olympics. While they may not be favorites for gold or the most exciting team, the Polish team has shown they can pull the trick, as they did a year ago in Paris World Cup against Koreans and won the match in the last anchor bout from a seemingly unhopeful situation. So, they could be a dangerous opponent for any team.

Canada (World Rank: 16)

Canada’s qualification for the team event is a significant achievement, marking their return to the Olympic team foil competition. Led by experienced Olympian Maximilien Van Haaster and rising star Blake Broszus, the Canadian team will look to make their mark on the world stage. While they may be underdogs, the Olympic stage often produces unexpected performances. As the lowest-seeded team in the competition, they have nothing to lose, and thus, they have no pressure to perform – usually, this mental freedom unleashes previously unknown powers.

The Men’s Foil Team event promises to be highly competitive, with several teams capable of reaching the podium. The team competition format allows for dramatic turnarounds and unexpected results, making it one of the most exciting events in fencing. It is also the final event in the Olympic fencing as foil is often called Queen of Fencing, and team matches are always fun to watch. With the level of talent across these eight teams and the love of home crowd to fencing, we can expect thrilling matches from the first round to the gold medal bout.

Men’s Foil Complete Roster

Men’s Foil Team and Individual Event

Japan: Kazuki Iimura, Kyosuke Matsuyama, Takahiro Shikine, Yudai Nagano (Team Alternate only)

Italy: Tommaso Marini, Guillaume Bianchi, Filippo Macchi, Alessio Foconi (Team Alternate only)

USA: Nick Itkin, Alexander Massialas, Gerek Meinhardt, Miles Champley-Watson (Team Alternate only)

France: Enzo Lefort, Julien Mertine, Maxime Pauty, Maximilien Chastanet (Team Alternate only)

China: Haiwei Chen, Zhiwei Mo, Jie Xu, Bin Wu (Team Alternate only)

Egypt: Alaaeldin Abouelkassem, Mohamed Hamza, Abdelrahman Tolba, Mohamed Essam (Team Alternate Only)

Poland: Jan Jurkiewicz, Michał Siess, Adrian Wojtkowiak, AndrzejRzadkowski

Canada: Blake Broszus, Daniel Gu, Maximilien Van Haaster, Bogdan Hamilton

Men’s Foil Individual Event

Edgar Ka Long Cheung (Hong Kong), Tae-guy Ha (Korea), Salim Heroui (Algeria), Guilherme Toldo (Brazil), Dániel Dósa (Hungary), Alexander Choupenitch (Czechia), Chen Yi-tung (Chinese Taipei), Jérémy Keryhuel (Ivory Coast), Kruz Schembri (Virgin Islands), Alex Tofalides (Cyprus), Victor Alvares (Cape Verde), Philippe Wakim (Lebanon),  Carlos Llavador (Spain)

There are a total of 37 Individual competitors fencing in the Individual event on July 29 and 8 teams competing in the Team event on August 4, 2024

To learn more about Olympic Fencing, read our comprehensive guide here. To expand your knowledge of key players in other disciplines, read our special editions on Men’s Epee, Women’s Epee, Women’s Foil, Men’s Sabre, and Women’s Sabre.

Image: Serge Timacheff/FIE