All of the world’s top 10 had gathered in Rio, with world No. 1 Gauthier Grumier looking to build upon his convincing victory in Budapest in March. Yet none of them made it to the semi-finals, leaving the field wide open for the 35-year-old Nikishin to claim the title.

The Rio Grand Prix was the first competition to adopt a new cross formation for the pistes, an innovation designed to provide an improved view of the action for the spectators and which will be adopted for the Olympic Games.

With the team event in women’s foil and men’s sabre rotated off the Olympic schedule this year, the test event was also the backdrop for the team World Championships in these disciplines. In the women’s foil Russia beat reigning champions Italy 45-39 to secure revenge for last year’s defeat in Moscow and deny fencing legend Valentina Vezzali a 17th world title before retiring.