France fencing team misses medals on opening day of 2026 Hong Kong World Championships

The French fencing squad secured full qualification for the final rounds of the 2026 World Championships in Hong Kong, with athletes qualified in all weapons. In men’s foil, Anas Anane, Alexandre Sido, Maxime Pauty and Rafael Savin earned spots, while women’s épée saw Auriane Mallo‑Breton join Marie‑Florence Candassamy and Alexandra Louis‑Marie. All four French women qualified in sabre, and men’s épée qualifiers included Aymerick Gally, Alexandre Bardenet and Paul Fortin.

When competition began on 25 July, the French fencers did not win any medals. In men’s foil and women’s épée, the team was eliminated before the podium. Auriane Mallo‑Breton reached the quarter‑finals before losing to South Korea’s Sera Song. Marie‑Florence Candassamy fell in the round of 16 to Germany’s Gala Hess Sancho, and Alexandra Louis‑Marie was ousted by Hong Kong’s Haidi Wu. In men’s foil, Rafael Savin progressed to the round of 8 before being stopped by Czech fencer Alexander Choupenitch, and Anas Anane exited in the round of 16 to Italy’s Tommaso Marini. No French fencer reached the medal matches on the first day.