Let’s examine the Women’s Foil event in our fourth installment of articles about the Olympic fencing disciplines. Foil was the first fencing discipline that allowed women to practice fencing, and for many years, it was the only one played by women. The first individual Women’s Foil event was held 100 years ago in the same place as now—the Paris Olympic Games in 1924. It took several decades to include the team events into the Olympic program, and only in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome were the Women’s Foil team medals contested. Since then, the women’s fencing disciplines gradually, over many years, started to emerge, with Women’s Epee being included in the Olympic program in 1996 in Atlanta and Women’s Sabre inclusion in 2004 in Athens. The Tokyo Olympic Games were the first where men’s and Women’s fencing disciplines were equally represented.

After a short discourse into the history of the Women’s Fencing discipline Olympic’s inclusion, let’s return to the Women’s Foil. The Women’s Foil Individual competition is scheduled for July 28, 2024, and the Women’s Foil Team competition is scheduled for August 1, 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, just as we saw Lee Kiefer become the first American foil fencer to win individual foil gold in Tokyo.

Women’s Foil Individual Event

Lee Kiefer (USA) – World Rank: 1

At 30, Kiefer is the reigning Olympic champion and has established herself as one of the most dominant forces in women’s foil in the last decade. This right-handed American fencer has been at the top of the rankings for years. She first made her name in 2010, when at age 15, she won the Cadet World Title, and a few months later, she won her first (out of 11!) Pan American title. She earned her first medal in the Senior World Cup in 2014 in France, and since then, she has become unstoppable, amassing a staggering amount of 50 (!!!) medals in all levels of competition – World Cups, Grand Prix, World Championships, Pan American Championships and of course, Olympic Gold.

Key Achievements:

• 2020 (2021) Olympic Champion
• 2018 Team World Champion
• Four-time Individual NCAA Champion
• Eleven times individual Pan American Champion
• Multiple Grand Prix and World Cup victories
• Four-time Olympian (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)

Kiefer made history in Tokyo by becoming the first American foil fencer to win an individual Olympic gold medal. She consistently sets new fencing records; one example is that she holds the most Zonal titles in history. Her consistency at the highest level is remarkable, and she ranked #1 in the World for the last three seasons. Just this season, out of 8 international tournaments she participated in, she medaled six times! And not just medaled – she won 3 Gold medals, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze. Take a moment to let this sink in. As she approaches her fourth Olympic Games, I hope she will defend her title and cement her legacy as one of the greatest foil fencers of all time. Lee is married to an icon of American and World fencing, five-time Olympian Gerek Meinheard, who also approached these Games in excellent form, winning a silver medal in the last two tournaments. 

Arianna Errigo (Italy) – World Rank: 2

At 36, Errigo is one of the field’s most experienced and decorated fencers. This left-handed Italian has been a dominant force in women’s foil for the last 15 years and is one of the most exciting foil fencers to watch. She has a super aggressive and fast style of fencing, such that she even took on sabre to compete! She’s the only woman in the field who competed and medaled internationally in both weapons at the senior level. But that’s not all – she did it in a span of two months! For about five years, Errigo didn’t succeed in winning any tournament, earning only Silvers and Bronzes, which many people attribute to her desire to succeed in sabre too. But she approached these Olympics in brilliant form, winning the latest European Championships. She’s one of the major contenders for the medal and one of the only few who could stop Kiefer. The good news is that their respective #1 and #2 rankings will put them on opposite sides of the tableau, and if they meet in the final, this would be the most spectacular match to watch.

Key Achievements:

• 2012 Olympic Silver (Individual) and Gold (Team)
• 2020 (2021) Olympic Bronze (Team)
• Two-time Individual World Champion (2013, 2014) and eight times Team World Champion
• Four-time World Cup overall winner, which is finishing the season with World Ranking #1
• Seven-time Grand Prix winner

Errigo’s consistency over the years is remarkable. She approaches her fourth Olympic Games with a mindset to complete her improbable collection of medals with the one medal she’s missing—the Individual Olympic Gold. As I wrote above, if she meets Kiefer in the final, this would be a match to be talked about long after.

Martina Favaretto (Italy) – World Rank: 3

At just 22, Favaretto represents the new generation of Italian foil fencing, and she’s the youngest member of the most decorated Italian team. This right-handed fencer has been making waves on the international circuit since her junior years, and the current season leaves everybody in awe. In her ten appearances in International tournaments, starting from the last World Championships in Milan in July 2023, she medaled 6 (!) times – with a Bronze at the World Championship and two Gold medals, one in the Shanghai Grand Prix and another one in Cairo’s World Cup.

Key Achievements:

• Bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships
• Gold medal in Team event at the 2022 World Championships
• Silver medal at the 2023 European Championships
• Gold medal at the 2023 European Games (Team)

Favaretto’s rise has been meteoric, and she has positioned herself as Italy’s next foil superstar. Italy, mostly composed of seasoned and highly accomplished veterans, needs this new echelon of young talent ready to take their place in history, and Favareto definitely leads this new generation. 

Alice Volpi (Italy) – World Rank: 4

At 32, Volpi is another key member of the formidable and most decorated Italian foil team. Like her teammate Errigo, Volpi has been a two-time Individual World Champion, but unlike Errigo, her results are much more recent. She is the reigning World Champion from the 2023 World Championship in Milan. 

Key Achievements:

• 2020 (2021) Olympic Bronze (Team)
• Two-time Individual World Champion (2018, 2023)
• 2017 Team World Champion
• Multiple Grand Prix, World Cup and European Medals

Volpi is a partner of the Rio Olympic Champion Danielle Garozzo, one of the greatest foil fencers. Unfortunately, just short of finalizing the Olympic team, Garozzo was diagnosed with a heart problem and was forced to retire. This news made the whole world sad, both for his health and because such a great fencer in his prime wouldn’t delight us with his performance. I hope that not having her partner compete alongside her will give Volpi additional motivation to win an Olympic medal. Well, she is poised to perform at the best at the World’s biggest stage.

Julia Walczyk-Klimaszyk (Poland) – World Rank: 5

Despite her high world ranking, the 26-year-old Walczyk-Klimaszyk still needs to become a fencer who is as exciting as her more accomplished opponents. However, the last season shows that she has steadily climbed the ranks and is now Poland’s top foil fencer. She won several medals last season and collected several more victories at different Satelite tournaments. This season, she consistently finishes in the top 8 and top 16 positions in the World Cups, and this is quite a big deal because in the Olympic Games, quarterfinals become very nervous events for the most accomplished fencers who have much more to prove and lose then their less decorated opponents. If she medals, and if anything, the 2024 shows that she could, this would be the third Polish medal in Olympic history in this discipline. 

Key Achievements:

• Bronze medal at the 2024 European Championships
• Silver medal at the 2024 Shanghai Grand Prix
• Multiple top-8 finishes in World Cups and Grand Prix events

Walczyk’s recent performances, including her European Championship medal, show she’s hitting her stride at the right time. Could she be the surprise package of the Olympic women’s foil competition?

Anne Sauer (Germany) – World Rank: 6

At 33, Sauer brings a wealth of experience to the piste. With two podium finishes this year, one top 8 result, and two top 16 results this season, Sauer prepared herself well for the main competition of her life. She is quite a consistent fencer with her performance, not often on the top of the podium, but quite often in the top 8 and 16. As I wrote about Walczyk-Klimaszyk above, this makes her a dangerous opponent to meet, especially for those who had already been at the Olympic podiums in prior Games.

Key Achievements:

• Two times Gold medalist in Grand Prix and World Cup (2022, 2023)
• Bronze medals at the 2024 Washington DC and 2024 Turin Grand Prix events
• Multiple top-8 finishes in World Cups and Grand Prix events

Sauer’s recent form, including her Grand Prix medals, shows she’s a serious contender. Can she translate her consistent performances into Olympic success? The last time Germany won a medal in Women’s Foil was in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, so it’s up to Sauer to finish this dry streak.

Ysaora Thibus (France) – World Rank: 55

Don’t let her current ranking deceive you – Thibus is one of the field’s most talented and decorated fencers. Her recent absence from the competition is due to a temporary ban (which was later removed), which has affected her ranking but not her skill or determination. In February 2024, she was suspended from international competitions after testing positive for banned substances. She was cleared of the allegation in May, just in time to make it to the Olympics. Her first competition following her clearing was supposed to be the European Championship in June, but unfortunately, she injured herself just before the competition and was forced to withdraw. Hopefully, this injury is entirely over, and we will see from her what we all are used to seeing when she performs at her best, the way she did in Cairo’s World Championships in 2022

Key Achievements:

• 2020 (2021) Olympic Silver (Team)
• 2022 Individual World Champion
• Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix victories

Thibus will have the home crowd behind her in Paris. Can she overcome her misfortunes of recent months to claim individual Olympic gold on home soil?

Pauline Ranvier (France) – World Rank: 15

At 30, Ranvier is another key member of the strong French foil team. Two major highlights of her career were the Olympic Silver from Tokyo and the Individual World Championship Silver medal from 2019, which are incredible accomplishments. She undoubtedly wants to add another one to her collection, especially with her home crowd behind her back. While she does not have a super strong individual track record like Thibus, her contribution to the team’s success is essential.

Key Achievements:

• 2020 (2021) Olympic Silver (Team)
• 2019 Individual World Championship Silver
• Multiple World Cup and World Championship team medals

Ranvier’s experience and success make her a dangerous opponent for any fencer, and she would definitely want to win the Olympic crown with her team.

Eleanor Harvey (Canada) – World Rank: 14

At 29, Harvey has established herself as one of the top foil fencers on the American continent, second best after Lee Keifer. This right-handed Canadian has consistently performed at a high level. Interestingly, Harvey was the only fencer in history who beat Keifer twice in Keifer’s thirteen Pan American Championships. The first time was in 2019, when Harvey knocked Keifer from the quarterfinals, eventually winning Bronze, and the second time was in 2022, when she won the Gold and Pan American Championship title, beating Keifer in the final.

Key Achievements:

• 5th place at the 2016 Rio Olympics
• Bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships
• 2022 Pan American Champion 
• Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix medals

Harvey’s Olympic experience and recent World Championship medal make her a serious contender. Can she make history by winning Canada’s first Olympic fencing medal?

Rising Star to Watch: Lauren Scruggs (USA) – World Rank: 11

At just 21, Scruggs represents the future of American foil fencing. This left-handed fencer has been making waves in both junior and senior competitions. Lauren holds a special place in my heart as I watched her develop into a beautiful fencer from a very young age. When she won both Cadet and Junior World Championships in 2019, the super inspiring photo of her flying high in the air became a cover image of my book, published a few weeks later, “From Cool Runnings to World Superpower: The Rise of American Fencing.”

Key Achievements:

• Bronze medal at the 2024 Washington DC Grand Prix
• Multiple top-16 finishes in World Cups and Grand Prix events
• Two times Junior World Champion

Scruggs’ recent Grand Prix medal and several top 8 and top 16 finishes show she can compete with the world’s best, and her team contribution is essential. This positions her as one of the potential contenders for a medal.

These fencers represent the incredible depth and diversity of talent in women’s foil fencing. From Olympic and World champions such as Keifer, Thibus, and Errigo to young prodigies such as Scruggs, the Olympic women’s foil competition promises to showcase varied styles and strategies. I feel the history will be written in Paris. Do you feel the same?

Women’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:

Italy (World Rank: 1) 

Italy has dominated women’s foil in the last half century, medalling at almost all competitions and often claiming the title. Italy is also the country of the greatest fencer of all time, legendary Valentina Vezzali, who holds 6 (!) Olympic titles, including three Individual Gold medals. Their recent success was securing gold at the 2023 World Championships in Milan and claiming the European Championship title this June in Basel, Switzerland. They’ve shown remarkable consistency with solid performances in any level of competition—World Cups, European Championships, and World Championships. With a star-studded roster including Arianna Errigo, Alice Volpi, and a rising star Martina Favaretto, Italy enters the Olympics as the clear favorite for team gold. Their depth and experience make them a formidable force in the competition. 

USA (World Rank: 2) 

The United States team has been a strong contender throughout the season, topping the podium in two World Cups and medaling twice more. Led by Olympic champion Lee Kiefer and supported by rising stars like Lauren Scruggs, the USA will be aiming to challenge Italy for gold. I hope for the Italy vs USA final. The USA team’s consistent top performances in World Cups demonstrate their ability to compete at the highest level and bring home the trophy.

France (World Rank: 3) 

As the host nation, France will be looking to capitalize on home advantage, and they are coming from a great place, being Silver medalists in the last two most significant World events – the Tokyo Olympic Games and the 2023 World Championship. Despite a setback in the recent 2024 European Championship, where, not having Thibus on their roster due to her injury, they failed to secure a medal, we should expect something grandiose from them in these Games. Led by Ysaora Thibus and Pauline Ranvier, the French team always rises to the occasion in major championships. The home crowd support could be the extra boost they need to reach the podium.

Japan (World Rank: 4) 

Japan quite surprised me (and many others) with their strong form this season, securing bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Milan. Reigning Asian Champions, they’ve had consistent top-4 finishes in World Cups, demonstrating their depth and team cohesion. 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.

Poland (World Rank: 5) 

Poland has been a surprise package this season, culminating in the pre-Olympic tournaments with a silver medal from the European Championship in Basel, Switzerland, in June and a silver medal in the Paris World Cup at the beginning of this year. Led by Julia Walczyk, the Polish team has shown they can compete with the best. Their recent rise in the rankings makes them a team to watch in Paris, and they have demonstrated that they succeed in Parisian tournaments. Poland won only one team medal in the history of the Olympics. Will they surprise us again?

Canada (World Rank: 6) 

Canada has been making significant strides in women’s foil, consistently finishing in the top 8 in World Cups this season. Except for experienced Eleanor Harvey, the rest of the team are still junior fencers, so I don’t expect them to medal. Still, the girls are super talented, and this experience will be fantastic for their development.

China (World Rank: 7) 

China is also undergoing a generational transformation, mainly being composed of young fencers. They still need to work on their element to rise to the top of the world’s fencing, but the country has shown many times that once they have something on their mind, they determinedly pursue this goal.

Egypt (World Rank: 15)

Egypt rounds out the field, securing their spot through the African zonal qualifier. They are definitely the underdogs in this competition, and most probably, their first match will be their last one, but for this very young team (the youngest member is just 14 years old!), participation in the Olympic Games is already a massive achievement by itself. Their participation represents the growing global reach of fencing and the increasing competitiveness of African nations in the sport.

The Women’s Foil Team event promises to be highly competitive, with several teams capable of reaching the podium. I predict the medals will be divided between Americans, Italians, and French, but Poland and Japan have shown us that we shouldn’t underestimate them. And isn’t this a beauty of fencing, and the Olympic Games in general, that they allow for dramatic turnarounds and unexpected results? With the talent level across these eight teams, we can expect thrilling matches from the first round to the gold medal bout.

Women’s Foil Complete Roster

Women’s Foil Team and Individual Event

Italy: Arianna Erigo, Martina Favareto, Alice Volpi, Francesca Palombo (Team Alternate Only)

USA: Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Jacqueline Dubrovich, Maia Weitraub (Team Alternate Only)

France: Ysaora Thibus, Pauline Ranvier, Eva Lacheray, Anita Blaze (Team Alternate Only)

Japan: Sera Azuma, Yuka Ueno, Karin Miyawaki, Komaki Kikuchi (Team Alternate Only)

Canada: Jessica Guo, Eleanor Harvey, Yunjia Zhang, Sabrina Fang (Team Alternate Only)

Poland: Julia Walczyk-Klimaszyk, Hanna Lyczbinska, Martyna Jelinska, Martyna Synoradzka (Team Alternate Only)

China: Qingyuan Chen, Qingqian Huang, Yuting Wang, Enqi Jiao (Team Alternate Only)

Egypt: Yara Elsharkawy, Malak Hamza, Sara Amr Hossny, Noha Hany (Team Alternate Only)

Women’s Foil Individual Event

Amita Berthier (Singapore), Daphne Chan (Hong Kong), Maxine Esteban (Ivory Cost), Arantxa Inostroza (Chile), Anne Sauer (Germany), Flora Pasztor (Hungary), Samantha Catantan (Philipines), Youssra Zekrani (Morocco), Mariana Pistoia (Brazil), Mălina Călugăreanu (Romania)

Summing it up, in Women’s Foil, there are 34 fencers to compete in Individual events and 8 teams in Team events in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

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, Men’s Foil, Men’s Sabre, and Women’s Sabre.

Image: Serge Timacheff/FIE