FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron attends a demonstration by the French fencing team during his visit to the Grand Palais, 100 days ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. Yoan Valat/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo PARIS - France is the second-most successful nation in Olympic fencing and with athletes qualified for all 12 events across sabre, epee and foil the host nation will expect to add to their medal tally at the Paris piste. President Emmanuel Macron has targeted a top-five finish in the overall medals table for France and the fencers, traditionally the country's biggest source of medals, will need to play their part if the hosts are to meet those expectations.
Their cause might be helped by the absence of Russian fencers, who topped the medals table in Tokyo but will be absent this year because of sanctions put in place after the invasion of Ukraine. In Tokyo, Russians won both individual and team titles in women's sabre and France's Sara Balzer has a good chance of emulating that feat in Paris with team mates Manon Apithy-Brunet and Cecilia Berder. "I can't wait to see Sarah Balzer, she deserves to be an Olympic champion," Pierre Guichot, manager of the French Olympic fencing team, told Reuters.
"She has all the assets to be one, but she will have to be strong on the big day, and not break down. Stress can either inhibit or transcend." Marie-Florence Candassamy is another strong challenger in the women's epee, while the men's ep.
