Golden Foil: Italy Returns to the Top of the World

Martina Favaretto, Arianna Errigo, Anna Cristino, and Martina Batini capped the grand finale for Italy’s fencing team at the World Championships in Hong Kong, winning the gold medal in the foil team event. The Italian women’s foil fencers returned to the top of the world after a year’s absence. The Italians defeated the defending champions, the United States, 45 to 29.

For Favaretto, it’s the second gold medal on the Asia World Arena platform after her individual victory, while for Errigo, it’s the twenty-fifth (eleventh team gold) of her world championship collection. For the women’s foil team event, it’s the 19th gold medal (the first in Paris 1957) and the third since 2022. In the 71 editions held to date, Italy leads the overall medal table with 385 medals, 128 gold.

The Dream Team’s Winning Journey

With an excellent team performance, the Italian women’s foil team, the weapon and specialty with the most medals in Italian fencing, Favaretto (Fiamme Oro), Batini (Carabinieri), Errigo (Carabinieri), and Cristino (Carabinieri) scored the final triumph of the Italian team in Hong Kong. The Italian quartet, nicknamed the “Dream Team,” began the day with a resounding victory against Israel 45-18, then defeated Hungary 45-25, before easily defeating Japan 45-19 in the semifinals. In the final, the foilers led by Simone Vanni overcame the Americans in the second half of the bout.

The Italian men’s saber team, however, was cut short in the quarterfinals: Michele Gallo, Pietro Torre, Matteo Neri, and Cosimo Bertini were eliminated by Romania. The expedition, led by Federal President Luigi Mazzone and delegation leader Daniele Garozzo, finished the World Championships with eight medals: four golds and four silvers. The four golds were won in the women’s épée and foil team events, the men’s foil team event, and Martina Favaretto in individual foil. The four silvers were won by Arianna Errigo and Filippo Macchi in foil, and Giulia Rizzi and Davide Di Veroli in épée. The next edition of the Fencing World Championships is scheduled for 2027 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the first time in 72 editions.