🇫🇷 FRENCH FLAIR IN HEIDENHEIM: MEN’S EPEE SQUAD SECURES FIRST GOLD
Updated: Aug 5
HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY — 7 FEBRUARY 2026
The French Men’s Epee team captured their first World Cup title of the season in Heidenheim, demonstrating the depth and resilience that has made them a perennial powerhouse. The squad—comprising Alexandre Bardenet, Paul Fortin, Aymerick Gally, and Kendrick Jean-Joseph—improved on their silver-medal finish from the Vancouver World Cup to stand atop the podium in Germany.
In a tournament marked by major upsets, the fifteenth-seeded Republic of Korea produced a stunning run to secure the silver medal, their first team podium of the campaign. The Netherlands continued their impressive season, claiming their second bronze medal of the year following their third-place finish in Fujairah. Meanwhile, Switzerland finished fourth after a narrow semi-final defeat.
Path to the Podium
France (World number 4) navigated the bracket with growing confidence. After efficient wins over Sweden, Hong Kong, and China, they met the Netherlands in the semi-finals. The Dutch held a slim 11–10 lead after the first three legs, but France rallied in the middle bouts to seize a 25–20 advantage. Despite a late charge by the Netherlands' Van Nunen in the eighth leg, Gally anchored France to a 45–35 victory. In the final, France trailed Korea 14–10 early on but clawed back to lead 25–24 after six legs, eventually winning every remaining bout to seal the 45–37 win.
Korea (World number 15) provided the shock of the tournament. Their giant-killing path included a 42–38 victory over World number 2 and Olympic Champions Hungary in the round of 16, followed by a dominant 45–31 win over Ukraine. In the semi-finals, they edged out Switzerland 41–40 in a thriller; Korea had built an eight-point lead entering the final leg, and while Switzerland’s Vineis mounted a furious comeback, Korea held on by a single touch.
Netherlands (World number 9) secured another podium finish after a landmark quarter-final victory. They upset the World number 1 and reigning World Champions Japan 42–41 to reach the final four. After falling to France, they regrouped for the bronze medal play-off against Switzerland. The Dutch took control from the end of the second leg and never relinquished it, securing the bronze with a 45–38 victory.
Switzerland (World number 3) reached the semi-finals after a disciplined 40–36 win over Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals. However, two consecutive heart-breaking losses—by one touch in the semi-final and a seven-touch margin in the bronze play-off—saw them miss out on a podium finish.
