Fencing. A strong team, the return of Ranvier: the French finish their world championship season on a high note

"In line with the European Championships" with a first place in the nations ranking, the French fencing team generally succeeded in its World Championships in Tbilisi, particularly in the team competition, and should rely on its results to launch the new Olympiad.

By winning gold on Wednesday , the sabre fencers led by Olympic vice-champion Sara Balzer allowed the French team to close this edition with a sixth medal (two titles). A "good result", considers DTN Stéphane Marcellin, who "finds that this is above all in line with the continuity of the European championships" in Genoa where the French had won five titles (9 medals).

“Building the Los Angeles Project”

Without several headliners from the Paris Olympics ( Manon Apithy-Brunet , Yannick Borel, Ysaora Thibus, Auriane Mallo- Breton, Enzo Lefort, Romain Cannone , etc.), and after more or less complete seasons, the Blues were moving forward without any certainties. "We succeeded, so much the better, if we hadn't succeeded, my opinion would be the same," adds Stéphane Marcellin, who insists on the "step back" to take from these first post-Olympic World Championships. But "this will allow me to build this project for Los Angeles 2028."

The strength of the collective

On the positive side, the French team will be able to rely on its collective strength. Its two titles were won in the women's team events. The French epee fencers, with Marie-Florence Candassamy, created a nice surprise by winning gold for the first time since 2008 .

A few days later, the sabre players led by Sara Balzer and Sarah Noutcha were able to put aside the disappointment of being eliminated in the individual quarter-finals to win, a month after their European title.

All without Olympic champion Manon Apithy-Brunet (maternity) in particular, but with the young Toscane Tori, 21 years old and Faustine Clapier, 23 years old.

"I think it's healthy, they're all thinking about the 2028 Games," explained coach Matthieu Gourdain before the World Championships. "With Manon, Sara Balzer, Sarah Noutcha, they're thinking that the places will be expensive. I told them it's possible to mess up, but we can't afford not to give it our all," he continued.

Added to this was the money from the foilists .

Ranvier's beautiful return

No medals, however, for the men. The French team notably failed in the third-place match in foil and épée. In the midst of rebuilding, the men's épée team also missed its individual event, where only Alexandre Bardenet advanced to the second round.

But Stéphane Marcellin "doesn't see it as a disappointment, this team was European champion and finished 4th here. It's not the best place, but at the start of the season we would have signed up for this kind of performance."

Having come to Tbilisi as the world number one, sabre fencer Sébastien Patrice undoubtedly left disappointed. After a successful season, the Marseille native was eliminated in the second round and the French team finished ^5th . His older brother, Jean-Philippe, confirmed his status by winning silver.

Finally, the most rewarded Frenchwoman remains Pauline Ranvier, double vice-world champion in foil . A nice revenge for the 31-year-old fencer who had suffered from the failure of the Olympic Games (elimination in the ^8th finals in individual, quarter-finals in team).