From November 6 to 13, the World Fencing Championship took over the Grand Palais, transformed for the occasion into an armoury! The beautifully lit arena provided the setting for some 900 competitors from over 100 nations, including champions Laura Flessel and Maureen Nissima. The opening ceremony on the afternoon of November 6, featuring spectacular dancing, was followed by eight days of sport and pleasure. Specialists of the sabre, the épée and the foil from no fewer than 100 nations faced each other in 32 events, including 20 for disabled sportsmen and women.
At the end of a week of high adrenalin, France took the gold medal for its men’s épée team, world champion for the 7th year running. In all competitions, France picked up 16 medals, including 11 in disabled sports, and ranked 2nd in the competition’s overall medals tables.
