World’s best foil fencer set for FIE Absolute Fencing Gear® FIE Grand Prix in Anaheim

The Absolute Fencing Gear® FIE Grand Prix Anaheim runs from today (Friday 16 March) until Sunday at the Anaheim Convention Centre in California, USA, and with more than 300 athletes from 46 nations scheduled to compete, it is set to become one of the largest international fencing events to be held on U.S. soil.

The three-day tournament will feature the best men’s and women’s foil fencers in the world with the men’s preliminary rounds kicking off proceedings today (Friday), ahead of the women’s preliminary rounds on Saturday. From there, the table of 64 and finals sessions in both the men’s and women’s competition are scheduled for Sunday.

The high quality field taking part is highlighted by five of the six individual foil medallists from the 2016 Olympic Games and seven of the eight individual medallists from the 2017 Senior World Championships. On the women’s side, they include 2016 Olympic Champion and two-time individual Senior World Champion Inna Deriglazova of Russia, 2017 Senior World silver medallist Alice Volpi of Italy, and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Ines Boubakri of Turkey.

The men’s competition will be an equally keenly contested affair with the likes of 2016 Olympic Champion Daniele Garozzo of Italy, 2017 Senior World Champion Dmitry Zherebchenko of Russia and compatriot and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Timur Safin, plus 2017 Senior World silver medallist Toshiya Saito of Japan, along with countryman Takahiro Shikine and fellow 2017 Senior World bronze medallist Ysaora Thibus of France.

Team USA will predictably be fielding a strong contingent in the hunt for medals and include at least 20 men and 20 women in their squad as they aim to build on the success over the last season.

The men’s entrants will be led by 2016 Olympic silver medallist and current world number two, Alexander Massialas took silver in the men’s competition held at Long Beach, California, last year. He will be joined by 2016 Olympic team bronze medallist and four-time Senior World medallist Gerek Meinhardt, and 2016 Olympic team bronze medallists Miles Chamley-Watson and Race Imboden.

Leading the women’s charge for the hosts will be world number three Lee Kiefer who is looking to retain the gold she won in the women’s event in Long Beach last year. She will be joined by 2012 Olympian and 2017 Senior World team silver medallist Nicole Ross and 2017 Senior World team silver medallist Margaret Lu for what promises to be an exciting weekend of action in Anaheim.