That process will fill 24 slots in the respective individual disciplines. Another seven places are available for the athletes who top the rankings after the final three Grand Prix weekends starting in Havana, Cuba, on March 11. The remaining individual slots in the events that include team disciplines will be filled by seven fencers from the Adjusted Official Ranking: the top two European fencers, the top two fencers from Asia-Oceania, the top two fencers from the Americas and the top African fencer.

The rankings after the final three Grand Prix stages will also determine which fencers qualify for men’s sabre and women’s foil – the two individual events with no corresponding team disciplines. For those that miss out on the automatic route, there is one final qualification chance available for the individual events through the zonal Olympic qualifying events held April 11-17.

Countries that have no representation in a particular discipline via the automatic route will be able to send one fencer per discipline to their regional qualifier to fill the final places available. There will be one additional place per zone for disciplines that include team events and a maximum of ten places for the disciplines without a team event (four from Europe, three from Asia-Oceania, two from Pan-America and one from Africa).

To complete the entry list, the host nation Brazil may select up to eight of its athletes who haven’t already qualified to fill the final places, and must submit the names by 6 June.