🇮🇹 ITALY SWEEPS ISTANBUL WITH DOMINANT MEN’S FOIL TEAM GOLD
Updated: Aug 6
ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE — MAY 3, 2026
World number 1 Italy mirrored their women's squad to complete a golden team sweep at the Istanbul Men’s Foil World Cup. The stellar Italian lineup—featuring Bianchi Guillaume, Lombardi Giulio, individual gold medallist Macchi Filippo and Marini Tommaso—claimed their third team title of the 2025–26 season, adding to their previous victories in Fukuoka and Cairo.
In the final, the top seeds asserted total authority over their traditional rivals France, turning a competitive matchup into a 45–29 showcase. The silver medal marked yet another consistent runner-up finish for the third-ranked French fencers, their third second-place layout of the campaign.
Hong Kong dug deep to claim the bronze medal over a frustrated United States squad, securing a highly consistent run of consecutive podium performances.
Path to the Podium
Italy (World number 1) cruised through the opening stages of the direct elimination bracket with maximum efficiency, handling Great Britain 45–31 before administering a 45–26 rout against China. In the semi-finals, they faced a highly technical test against Hong Kong, stepping up in the late bouts to secure a 45–38 win. They carried that momentum into the gold medal contest, completely neutralizing France's offensive game plan to run away with a comprehensive 16-touch victory.
France (World number 3) earned their spot in the final through an incredibly gritty performance. The squad—featuring Anas Anane, Tyvan Bibard, Rafael Savin and Alexandre Sido—moved past Hungary 45–42 in a tight quarter-final. They followed this with a stellar semi-final victory over world number 2 United States, winning 45–40. The difference-maker was Anas Anane, who executed an exceptional 15–7 anchor performance to secure the placement.
Hong Kong (World number 4) locked down their third consecutive team podium by claiming the bronze medal. The squad—comprising individual legend Cheung Ka Long, Choi Chun Yin Ryan, Ho Shing Him Harris and Leung Chin Yu—navigated a tight 45–43 quarter-final battle against Japan before falling to Italy. In the bronze play-off, they rebounded emphatically, anchored by a brilliant display from Choi Chun Yin Ryan (+11 score differential) to take down the USA.
The United States (World number 2) had to settle for fourth place, a disappointing result for the star-studded team of Nick Itkin, Bryce Louie, Marcello Olivares and Alexander Massialas. The placement marked their third fourth-place finish of the season, replicating their result from the previous World Cup in Cairo.
