The 2026 World Veterans Fencing Championships concluded in Tbilisi, Georgia, following nine days of international competition from 9 to 17 October. Hosted at the Hualing Plaza Center, the championships brought together experienced fencers from around the world, competing across three weapons and four individual age categories.
European athletes delivered an impressive performance, claiming numerous world titles and podium finishes in both individual and team competitions. France, Germany and Italy were among the leading nations, while Great Britain, Belgium, Poland and the Netherlands also celebrated gold medals.
France Leads the European Medal Standings
France emerged as the most successful European nation, finishing second in the overall medal standings with 24 medals, including seven gold, three silver and 14 bronze. Only the United States ranked higher, with 26 medals and eight golds.
Germany followed in third place with 17 medals, including six gold, five silver and six bronze. Italy placed fourth with 21 medals — four gold, seven silver and ten bronze — confirming the depth and consistency of its veteran fencing programme.
Russia finished fifth with 16 medals, including four gold, while Great Britain secured two gold medals among its five podium finishes. Belgium and Poland each collected one gold and one silver medal.
French Fencers Excel in Individual Competitions
France's individual performances were particularly impressive in men's épée and foil.
Olivier Guilbert claimed the world title in the men's 60+ épée category, finishing ahead of American Sean Ameli, while Germany's Gerald Hinz and Russia's Evgeny Belousov shared bronze.
In the men's 50+ épée competition, Gildas Le Treut secured another French victory, with Finland's Antti Kerminen taking silver. France's Vincent Soland and Germany's Thomas Poenisch completed the podium.
Jean-Emmanuel Remoue added gold in the men's 40+ épée event, defeating Russia's Dmitrii Borodako, with Bulgaria's Rosislav Rusev and Russia's Konstantin Semenov earning bronze.
French foil fencers were equally successful. Jordan Moine won the men's 40+ title ahead of Poland's Pawel Szumielewicz, while Germany's Daniel Tuerkis and France's Clement Desvaux shared third place. Cyril Lacroix triumphed in the men's 50+ category, with Russia's Dmitrii Sitnikov taking silver and Italy's Filippo Pesce and France's Nicolas Piofret earning bronze.
In women's foil, Gabrielle Fayet secured gold in the 60+ category, ahead of Italy's Magda Melandri. France's Benedicte Bisson and Germany's Christine Zoppke completed the podium.
Germany and Italy Celebrate Multiple World Titles
German veterans demonstrated their strength across all three weapons.
Rabea Hambach-Richter became world champion in women's 40+ sabre, defeating Australia's Thi Hai Yen Nguyen, while France's Jessica De Morais and Russia's Svetlana Verteletskaia shared bronze.
In women's épée, Germany celebrated two individual titles. Astrid Kircheis won the 70+ category ahead of Finland's Marja-Liisa Tuulikki Someroja, with Italy's Gianna Cirillo among the bronze medallists. Frauke Hohlbein secured gold in the 60+ event, where compatriot Carolin Marheineke also reached the podium alongside Spain's Rosa Maria Cano Diosa.
Italy enjoyed notable success in women's sabre and foil. Daniela Colaiacomo claimed gold in the women's 50+ sabre competition, finishing ahead of American Yelena Kalkina, while Germany's Gesche Reimers and American Julie Seal earned bronze.
Marta Cammilletti added another Italian world title in women's 40+ foil, defeating Russia's Yulia Biryukova. France's Annaick Ferrari and American Christina Kaneshige completed the podium.
In men's sabre, Alberto Feira Chios secured gold for Italy in the 60+ category, ahead of American George Matt, with another American, Michael Bacon, and Russia's Sergey Lapshin taking bronze.
British, Belgian, Dutch and Polish Successes
Several other European nations celebrated memorable victories in Tbilisi.
Great Britain secured two individual world titles in the 70+ categories. Paul Wedge won men's foil ahead of American John Lawrence, with Italy's Maurizio Galvan among the bronze medallists. Carl Morris triumphed in men's sabre, finishing ahead of American Joseph Streb, while Italy's Enrico Antinoro and Spain's Pedro Carnicer shared bronze.
Belgium's Jean Stock claimed gold in men's 70+ épée, defeating American Bruce Jugan, with Italy's Giuliano Pianca and France's Francois Gaudry taking bronze.
The Netherlands also celebrated a world champion as Hans Rijsenbrij won the men's 60+ foil competition, ahead of Germany's Roman Christen.
European athletes added further podium finishes in women's events, including Belgium's Nathalie Vandewalle, silver medallist in women's 50+ épée, and Germany's Ulrike Bernau, runner-up in women's 50+ foil.
European Teams Make Their Mark
The team competitions provided further highlights for European fencing, with several nations securing world titles.
France claimed gold in the men's 40–59 épée team event through Hervé Lapierre, Gregory Goetz, François Pawlaczyk, Steeve Blandin and Vincent Soland, finishing ahead of Russia and the United States.
Germany dominated the Grand Veteran men's épée competition, with Achim Bellmann, Volker Fischer, Werner Hensel, Gerald Hinz and Oliver Klass taking gold. Italy finished second, while the United States secured bronze.
In men's foil, Poland celebrated an outstanding victory in the 40–59 team competition. Tomasz Cieply, Slawomir Mocek, Tomasz Konczylo, Pawel Szumielewicz and Daniel Przystajko secured the world title ahead of France and Italy.
Italy added another team gold in Grand Veteran men's foil, with Maurizio Galvan, Francesco Tiberi, Marco Bosio, Fabrizio Capellini and Fabio Miraldi finishing ahead of Germany and Russia.
Germany also celebrated victory in Grand Veteran women's foil. Margaretha Dresen-Kuchalski, Irina Hilbrich, Astrid Kircheis, Christiane Wagner and Christine Zoppke claimed gold, with Italy taking silver and the United States bronze.
Russia secured two additional team titles, winning women's 40–59 foil ahead of Hungary and Italy, and men's 40–59 sabre ahead of Italy and France.
European teams also featured prominently in competitions won by the United States. Germany and Italy earned silver and bronze respectively in women's 40–59 sabre, while France and Italy occupied the same positions in women's 40–59 épée. France took silver in Grand Veteran women's sabre, Italy finished second in Grand Veteran men's sabre ahead of Great Britain, and Italy also secured bronze in Grand Veteran men's sabre's corresponding European representation through the British team.
Celebrating Experience, Passion and Longevity
The World Veterans Championships once again demonstrated that fencing remains a lifelong sport, bringing together generations of athletes united by their passion for competition.
The performances in Tbilisi highlighted the strength of European veteran fencing, with established fencing nations continuing to excel alongside a wide range of countries celebrating international success.
The European Fencing Confederation congratulates all European medallists, participants, coaches and national federations on their achievements at the 2026 World Veterans Championships.
Full results: https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/CD17BF3AC4CC47BC800AB3D2A503099C#today
