The resumption of the fencing World Cup circuit in May saw Olympic hopefuls start to find form at just the right time, with world No.3 Olga Kharlan claiming the top prize at the women’s sabre event in Foshan, China. The Ukrainian overcame Jiyeon Kim of South Korea 15-11 for her second World Cup gold of the season.

At the men’s sabre World Cup in Madrid, Frenchman Vincent Anstett defeated Sandro Bazadze of Georgia 15-9 for victory. It was the world No. 13’s first gold medal of the season. Bronze went to Luca Curatoli and Junghwan of South Korea while the Germans took home gold in the team event.

Russia hosted the men’s foil World Cup, where local boy Dmitry Zherebchenko clinched the gold with a 15-6 thrashing of his compatriot Dmitry Rigin in the northern city of St. Petersburg. Andrea Baldini of Italy and Britain’s James-Andrew Davis had to settle for the bronze. In the team event, Italy clinched the gold.

Russia's Inna Deriglazova wrapped up her World Cup season in style by defeating Italy’s Arianna Errigo in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany.