🇺🇸 TEAM USA DEFIES CANADA TO LOCK DOWN THIRD CONSECUTIVE PAN AMERICAN FOIL TITLE

LIMA, PERU — 18 JUNE 2026

The United States’ World number two Team USA demonstrated their exceptional continental supremacy on the fourth day of the 2026 Pan American Fencing Championships, capturing their third consecutive women’s team foil zonal title. Opening the team portion of the tournament schedule in Lima, the deep American roster proved entirely unstoppable, safely managing multiple tactical line-up adjustments to hold off their fierce rivals Canada 45–38 in an entertaining gold medal match.

The golden triumph marks a spectacular continuation of the status quo in Pan American women's foil, with Canada forced to settle for a third consecutive continental silver medal, and World number 22 Brazil fighting through a tense thriller to claim their third consecutive bronze medal.

Path to the Podium

Team USA, who lined up with Jacqueline Conway, Jaelyn Liu, Lauren Scruggs, and Carolina Stutchbury, received a first-round bye before opening their account with a comprehensive 45–10 demolition of World number 35 Argentina. In the semi-finals against Chile, Team USA dominated from the opening phrase, building a comfortable 15–4 lead after three legs, pushing the scoreline to 30–13 after six, and closing out a routine 45–19 win.

In the final against Canada, a highly focused start saw the USA establish a 14–9 lead after three legs. Stutchbury immediately broke the match open in the fourth leg, stretching the American advantage to 18–10, before Jessica Guo and Scruggs traded quick hits in the fifth to leave the score at 23–15. Scruggs and Stutchbury maintained absolute control through the setup legs, building an authoritative 40–28 lead ahead of the final phase. Despite a spectacular, high-octane 10–5 scoring surge from Canada’s anchor Guo against American anchor Liu, the United States successfully protected their cushion to seal a 45–38 victory.

Team Canada, fielding a high-calibre line-up of Eleanor Harvey, Jessica Guo, Jessica Hayes, and Yunjia Zhang, comfortably advanced to the final to secure their familiar silver medal. Following an opening bye, the Canadians out-pointed Venezuela 44–27 in the quarter-finals to book a semi-final date with Brazil. With Harvey resting on the bench, the Canadian trio gelled beautifully, taking a 15–10 advantage after three legs and pulling away to a commanding 30–17 lead after six. The team encountered no resistance in the final fights, easily wrapping up a 45–21 victory to secure their shot at the gold.

Team Brazil, utilizing a balanced tactical roster of Ana Bulcao, Ana Toldo, Mariana Pistoia, and Gabriella Vianna, safely navigated a roller coaster day to secure a fully deserved bronze medal. The Brazilians opened their campaign by sweeping past World number 25 Colombia 45–26, before suffering a comprehensive semi-final loss to Canada.

In a dramatic, point-for-point bronze medal match against Chile, the two squads stood deadlocked at 13–13 after three legs. Brazil managed to edge ahead 28–27 after six legs, prompting a crucial tactical substitution in the seventh bout as Toldo came on for Vianna to stretch the Brazilian lead to 33–31. Bulcao and Pistoia displayed great tactical maturity in the final two legs, successfully closing out the match to seal a nail-biting 43–41 victory.

Team Chile, represented by Arantza Inostroza, Katina Proestakis, Lisa Montecinos, and Rafaela Santibanez, suffered heartbreak on the final hit to finish fourth for the fourth successive time. The Chileans had put together a spectacular morning session, squeezing past World number 26 Mexico 44–42 in an absolute quarter-final thriller, before falling to the relentless American squad in the semi-finals.

Full results are here.