15-17 JANUARY 2016 – FOIL

Men – Paris (FRA)
Women – Gdansk (POL)

Race Imboden (USA) won his second successive Challenge International de Paris at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in the French capital, defeating Germany’s Peter Joppich 15-9 in an exciting final. The 22-year-old Imboden, a top medal hope for Rio, then inspired the Americans to a pulsating 45-43 victory over Italy in the men’s team event.

Meanwhile in the Baltic port city of Gdansk the women’s world No. 3 Arianna Errigo of Italy beat Aida Shanaeva 15-8 in the final to emerge victorious from a field representing 35 nations and six continents. In the women’s team event, Italy took gold, defeating Russia 45-44 in the final match.

21-24 JANUARY 2016 – EPEE

Men – Heidenheim (GER)
Women – Barcelona (ESP)

Italy’s Navarria Mara beat Rembi Lauren of France to secure the women’s individual title. Mara, who had won the Fencing Grand Prix one month earlier in Doha (QAT) edged FIE WORLD CUP 2 OF 4out her rival by 13 hits to 12. In the women’s team event, Estonia beat Russia 26-22 in the final match.

In Heidenheim, southern Germany, world No1 Grumier Gauthier of France defeated Ukraine’s Nikishin Bogdan 15-14 in the individual final, while Italy came out on top in the men’s team event and booked their tickets for Rio 2016 by beating France in an extremely close encounter, 40-39.