ORLEANS, France, Dec. 8-10—Hungary’s world and three-time Olympic champion Aron Szilagyi and Italy’s Martina Criscio won gold medals at the 2022 Orleans Men’s and Women’s Sabre Grand Prix. The event took place at the Palais des Sports, with 200 men and 176 women participating in the competition.
In the final match of men’s individual sabre, Szilagyi faced Georgia’s Sandro Bazadze, winning with a 15-10 score. Bazadze beat Italy’s Luca Curatoli in the semifinals, 15-6, while Szilagyi defeated Korean world champion Junghwan Kim, 15-8.
In the final match of women’s individual sabre, Criscio faced France’s Manon Apithy-Brunet, winning with 15-14 score. Apithy-Brunet beat Greece’s Despina Georgiadou in the semifinals, 15-11, while Criscio defeated teammate Chiara Mormile, 15-12. Of note, Apithy-Brunet defeated Japan’s world champion Misaki Emura in the quarterfinals, 15-9.
Final rankings in men’s sabre included Aron Szilagyi (HUN, gold), Sandro Bazadze (GEO, silver), Luca Curatoli (ITA, bronze), Junghwan Kim (KOR, bronze), Iulian Teodosiu (ROU), Bolade Apithy (FRA), Bongil Gu (KOR) and Matyas Szabo (GER).
Final rankings in women’s sabre included Martina Criscio (ITA, gold), Manon Apithy-Brunet (FRA, silver), Despina Georgiadou (GRE, bronze), Chiara Mormile (ITA, bronze), Anna Bashta (AZE), Misaki Emura (JPN), Magda Skarbonkiewicz (USA) and Cyrielle Girardin (FRA).
Complete and official results for the event may be found here on the FIE web site. For more exciting world fencing news and features, check out the YouTube FIE Fencing Channel.