🇮🇹 ITALIAN DOMINANCE IN WUXI: RIZZI SECURES SECOND SEASON GOLD
Updated: Aug 5
WUXI, CHINA — 7 FEBRUARY 2026
Giulia Rizzi (ITA) continued her sensational run of form by capturing her fourth career World Cup title at the Women’s Epee World Cup in Wuxi. This marks Rizzi’s second gold medal of the 2025–26 campaign, following her victory at the season opener in Vancouver. In a final that highlighted Italy’s current stranglehold on the discipline, Rizzi defeated her teammate Alberta Santuccio 15–9.
Santuccio (ITA), the reigning European bronze medallist, earned the silver medal—the eighth World Cup podium of her distinguished career. The bronze medals were shared by local favorite Tang Junyao (CHN), who made a stunning senior international podium debut, and the legendary Rossella Fiamingo (ITA). For Fiamingo, the Rio 2016 silver medallist and two-time World Champion, this was her first individual podium of the season and her seventh World Cup medal overall.
Path to the Podium
Giulia Rizzi (World number 4) demonstrated exceptional mental toughness, beginning her day with a narrow 15–14 escape against China’s Zhang. After navigating the middle rounds, she faced a difficult quarter-final against World number 8 Alexandra Louis Marie (FRA), winning 15–12. Rizzi then produced her most dominant fencing in the all-Italian medal rounds, dismantling Fiamingo 15–6 in the semi-final before clinical efficiency secured her the gold against Santuccio.
Alberta Santuccio (World number 6) reached the final through a series of disciplined performances. Her route included a tense 15–13 win over teammate Sara Maria Kowalczyk in the round of 16 and a 15–10 victory over Switzerland’s Fiona Hatz in the quarter-finals. She ended the dream run of Tang Junyao in the semi-finals with a 15–8 victory to guarantee an all-Italian gold medal bout.
Tang Junyao (World number 26) provided the home crowd with plenty to cheer for in her breakthrough performance. Her journey to the bronze medal was highlighted by a 12–11 "sudden death" victory over Lucrezia Paulis (ITA) in the round of 32 and a dominant 15–9 quarter-final win over France’s Jade Sersot.
Rossella Fiamingo (World number 11) looked in vintage form throughout the early rounds. She showed her trademark nerves of steel in the round of 16, edging out rising Ukrainian star Anna Maksymenko 15–14. She followed this with a 15–12 quarter-final victory over Aliya Luty (FRA) before being stopped by the eventual champion in the semi-finals.
