PARIS, France, Jan. 12-15, 2023—USA’s Alexander Massialas and Italy’s world champion Alice Volpi won the individual gold medals at the Paris Mazars Challenge International de Paris (CIP) Men’s and Women’s Foil World Cup, with Italy winning both team gold medals. The event took place at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, with 258 men and 210 women fencers participating in the competition as well as 28 men’s and 23 women’s teams.
Massialas faced Italy’s Guillaume Bianchi in the final bout of the men’s individual foil event, winning with a 15-5 score. In the semifinal round, Bianchi won against Spain’s Carlos Llavador, 15-10, while Massialas beat Hong Kong-China’s Olympic champion Ka Long Cheung, 15-13. Of note, Ka Long Cheung defeated France’s two-time world champion, Enzo Lefort, in the quarterfinals, 15-12, and Llavador won against Italy’s Olympic champion, Daniele Garozzo, in the round of 16, 15-7.
Volpi faced USA’s Olympic champion, Lee Kiefer, in the final bout of the women’s individual foil event, winning with a 15-13 score. In the semifinal round, Kiefer won against Italy’s Francesca Palumbo, 15-10, while Volpi beat France’s world champion Ysaora Thibus, 15-13.
In the men’s team foil event, Italy won against USA in the final match, 45-42. USA defeated China in the semifinals, 45-23, while Italy beat Japan, 45-44. The bronze medal went to Japan over China, 45-16.
In the women’s team foil event, Italy won against USA in the final match, 45-32. USA defeated France in the semifinals, 45-35, while Italy beat Japan, 45-43. The bronze medal went to Japan over France, 45-39.
Final rankings in men’s individual foil included Alexander Massialas (USA, gold), Guillaume Bianchi (ITA, silver), Ka Long Cheung (HKG, bronze), Carlos Llavador (ESP, bronze), Alaaeldin Abouelkassem (EGY), Enzo Lefort (FRA), Alexandre Ediri (FRA) and Filippo Macchi (ITA).
Final rankings in women’s individual foil included Alice Volpi (ITA, gold), Lee Kiefer (USA, silver), Francesca Palumbo (ITA, bronze), Ysaora Thibus (FRA, bronze), Pauline Ranvier (FRA), Jacqueline Dubrovich (USA), Serena Rossini (ITA) and Flora Pasztor (HUN).
Final rankings in men’s team foil included Italy (gold), USA (silver), Japan (bronze), China, Poland, Korea, Egypt and Ukraine.
Final rankings in women’s team foil included Italy (gold), USA (silver), Japan (bronze), France, China, Canada, Poland and Ukraine.
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.