Cadet Circuit Weekend Recap

Cadet Circuit Continues Across Europe

Three Events, One Cadet Weekend

The European Fencing Confederation Cadet Circuit continued the 2026 season with a rich and competitive weekend on 24–25 January, as three international events took place simultaneously across Europe. Cadet fencers (U17) competed in individual and team competitions in sabre, foil and epee in Konin, Riga and Novi Sad, offering an early and valuable indication of form at this stage of the season.

Young athletes from Europe and beyond stepped onto the piste to test themselves against strong international opposition, earn European ranking points and gain crucial competitive experience in all three weapons.

Konin, Poland – Sabre Events

Konin hosted the cadet sabre competitions, where speed, initiative and tactical clarity defined the weekend. In the men’s individual sabre event, Gael Boujrad-Benaud of France claimed the gold medal after a strong and consistent performance. Spain’s Gabriel Ricardo Suarez Zas secured silver, while the bronze medals were shared by Abbas Huseynov of Azerbaijan and France’s Tehen Brisson-Turgne.

The women’s individual sabre competition saw local success as Natalia Bienczak of Poland stood on the top step of the podium. Germany’s Ruoshui Su finished second, with bronze medals awarded to Khadija Aboualam of Egypt and Marla Scheibke of Germany.

In the men’s sabre team event, Spain captured first place thanks to Jose Antonio De Andres Jimenez, Alejandro Florez De Vargas, Gabriel Ricardo Suarez Zas and Manuel Verde Alonso. France followed in second place with Tehen Brisson-Turgne, Charles Alexandre Tori, Noah Thomas and Gael Boujrad-Benaud, while another French squad composed of Roman Le Lan, Loan Lombard, Maxence Moreau and Baptiste Raucy completed the podium in third place.

The women’s sabre team title went to Egypt, represented by Khadija Aboualam, Anan Hegazy, Rawda Hamad and Retal Eldoksh. France finished second with Ismerie Cappoen, Agathe Mege, Clemence Verley and Nina Zacchia, while Germany secured third place through Mirja-Lena Haack, Viktoria Voytova, Julia Doll and Luisa Rezi.

Results: 

Riga, Latvia – Foil Events

Cadet foilists gathered in Riga for a weekend of high-level technical fencing. In the men’s individual foil competition, Lucas Robinet of France took the gold medal, finishing ahead of Poland’s Szymon Gluszak in second place. The bronze medals were shared by Mohammed Belbouab of British fencing and Roman Volpel of France.

The women’s individual foil event was dominated by athletes from the United States of America, with Lavender Lee winning gold and Emma Yang taking silver. Viviene Goor and Grace Feng completed the podium with bronze medals.

In the men’s foil team competition, France claimed first place with Mahel Boumaza, Constantin Chino, Victor Lezinska and Lucas Robinet. A second French team, composed of Leo Singharat Blanchard, Hugo Caron, Leonardo Racape and Samuel Robinet, secured silver, while Israel finished third thanks to Evyatar Koren, Yoav Alon Altmann, Yuval Sofer and Ron Assaf.

The women’s foil team title went to the United States of America, represented by Ella Calise, Iris Yang, Emma Yang and Grace Feng. Poland followed in second place with Olga Pisarewicz, Teresa Mos, Kinga Kowalska and Alicja Gatz, while Germany completed the podium through Florentine Grund, Ksenja Klimuk, Emma Klostermann and Johanna Spinzig.

Results: https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/3B37B44C1F9543BD90A2F3FD47380477#today

Novi Sad, Serbia – Epee Events

In Novi Sad, cadet epeeists delivered closely contested competitions across both genders. The men’s individual epee title was won by Stefan Popa of Romania, who finished ahead of Mehmet Ilgar Cevizici of Türkiye. Bronze medals were awarded to Oleksandr Stabnikov of Ukraine and Fotios Minos of Greece.

The women’s individual epee event saw a Ukrainian one-two finish, with Polina Spyrydonova taking gold and Yelyzaveta Gorbachuk securing silver. Johanna Kurtinecz of Romania and Mirnuray Abasova of Azerbaijan shared the bronze medals.

Romania emerged victorious in the men’s epee team competition thanks to Mihai Slave, Stefan Popa, Mihai Tahu and Francesco Uberti. Ukraine finished second with Oleksa Artsyshevskyy, Oleksandr Stabnikov, Maksym Durda and Hryhorii Krasniuk, while Greece took third place through Fotios Minos, Antonios Achilleas Antoniou, Ioannis Fiskas and Nikolaos Soukeras.

In the women’s epee team event, Ukraine claimed gold with Mariia Malchevska, Yelyzaveta Stepanova, Dominika Fedenko and Mariia Prozorovska. Romania secured second place thanks to Alina Alexandrescu, Elena Gusatu, Jazmin Ilyes and Johanna Kurtinecz, while another Ukrainian team composed of Polina Spyrydonova, Yelyzaveta Gorbachuk, Marharyta Anharska and Sofiia Makhlai-Shemiakina completed the podium in third place.

Results: https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/B046AD499B4C442D821839A67E82EAF3#today

Building Momentum for the Season

The Cadet Circuit weekend in Konin, Riga and Novi Sad once again underlined the depth, diversity and competitive balance of cadet fencing at European level. With strong performances across all three weapons and full team line-ups showcasing the importance of collective development, the 2026 season continues with growing momentum as young fencers look ahead to the next Cadet Circuit events.