Cadet and Junior Worlds in Rio deliver exciting victories and historic moments
The Cadet and Junior World Championships in Rio de Janeiro brought together the best young talents from across the globe, competing in the iconic Carioca Arena 1 — a venue that continues to inspire new generations of fencers. Over the course of the competition, rising stars confirmed their potential, while several nations celebrated landmark achievements on the world stage.
Horvath Defends Cadet World Title
Hungary’s Lotti Horvath successfully defended her Cadet Women’s Épée World Championship title, confirming her status as one of the most promising athletes in the discipline. Facing the United States’ Natalya Cafasso in the final, Horvath delivered a composed and controlled performance to secure a 15–8 victory.
Her path to gold was far from straightforward. In the semifinal, she met Ukraine’s Alina Dmytruk in a demanding and tactical bout. Demonstrating excellent distance management and composure under pressure, Horvath edged the contest 15–12, using her reach advantage and well-timed actions to maintain control at key moments.
Notably, both Horvath and Dmytruk had already shown consistency by reaching the quarterfinals of the Junior competition, underlining their role as leaders of the next generation in women’s épée.
Historic Gold for Latvia
A defining moment of the championships came with the victory of Latvia’s Sofija Prosina, who made history by becoming her country’s first-ever World Champion in fencing. In the Junior Women’s Épée final, she produced a dominant performance to defeat Switzerland’s Magda Louna Maiga 15–7.
Competing in a strong field of 169 fencers, Prosina demonstrated both confidence and tactical maturity throughout the day. One of her standout performances came in the quarterfinals, where she overcame Lotti Horvath with a convincing 15–6 score.
This title follows her recent triumph at the European Championships, confirming her rapid rise and marking an important milestone for Latvian fencing.
France Celebrates Cadet Men’s Épée Title
France also had reason to celebrate as Hiroaki Toto claimed the Cadet Men’s Épée World Championship title. In the final against Canada’s Junzhe Shan, Toto showed resilience and tactical discipline to secure a 15–11 victory.
After trailing early, he steadily built momentum, taking the lead before the first break and maintaining control through the final phase. His ability to vary actions, including precise toe touches and well-managed double hits, proved decisive as he closed out the bout to take gold.
Team Success in Women’s Sabre
In the Junior Women’s Team Sabre event, the team representing Russia delivered a composed and determined performance to capture the world title. Competing against a field of 33 nations, the squad navigated a challenging tableau and held their nerve in a dramatic final, edging past China with a narrow 45–44 victory.
The lineup of Mariia Tretiakova, Karina Tallada, Malena Kunasheva and Aleksandra Mikhailova showcased depth, unity, and competitive experience, building on their successful season after also winning the Junior European Championship title in Tbilisi earlier this February.
Celebrating the Future of Fencing
The championships in Rio once again highlighted the strength and diversity of the global fencing community. From successful title defences to historic first victories, the event provided a glimpse into the future of the sport.
The European Fencing Confederation warmly congratulates all medalists and their national federations on their achievements, as these young athletes continue to shape the next chapter of international fencing.
