Modern Pentathlon at Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Women’s Fencing update

Elodie Clouvel of France could not have hoped for a better start to her home Olympic Games after she dominated the Women’s Fencing Ranking Round at North Paris Arena.

The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist scored 27 victories and suffered only eight defeats as she took control of the round, leading Michelle Gulyas of Hungary by three touches and leaving Paris 2024 home fans in delirium.

Gulyas (HUN) also performed strongly with her return of 24V/11D, but reigning Olympic champion Kate French of Great Britain ended the day breathing down her neck after scoring 23V/12D. Kerenza Bryson (GBR) and Marie Oteiza (FRA) each managed 21 victories while Veronika Novotna of Czechia excelled with 22.

The Asian challenge was also strong as world champion Seungmin Seong of Korea and Mingyu Zhang of China each returned a score of 20V/15D, with Sunwoo Kim (KOR) alongside two-time world champion Elena Micheli of Italy on 19V/16D.

In the early stages, the frontrunners included Kim (KOR), Marlena Jawaid of Sweden and Novotna (CZE), but it soon became the Clouvel show. The home favourite overcame any early nerves to march through the round as one of the standout fencers.

When she and Oteiza (FRA) faced Great Britain on the show piste, Clouvel (FRA) delivered in style by defeating European champion Bryson (GBR) and then winning a stormy encounter with the reigning Olympic champion, French (GBR). Bryson (GBR) hit back with a victory over Oteiza (FRA).

Clouvel (FRA) was eventually joined at the top by a familiar foe in Gulyas (HUN), before pulling away again at the end with the crowd roaring their approval.