USA Fencing

MILAN, Italy — For Team USA’s Women’s Saber and Men’s Foil squads, the task was deceptively simple: win two matches and earn the right to fence for a chance at a medal.

On Saturday, the eighth day of the 2023 Fencing World Championships in Italy, both squads did exactly that — ensuring they’ll continue fencing on Sunday, the tournament’s final day.

The top-seeded Men’s Foil team of Alexander Massialas OLY, Gerek Meinhardt OLY, Nick Itkin OLY and Miles Chamley-Watson OLY looked strong against Iraq and Brazil, allowing less than 20 touches to each team.

They’ll fence against Poland on Sunday morning (4 a.m. EDT) and, if successful in that match, will face the winner of China vs. France in the semifinals.

The fifth-seeded Women’s Saber team of Elizabeth Tartakovsky, Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Maia Chamberlain and Tatiana Nazlymov defeated India and China in their Saturday matches, setting up a showdown with Olga Kharlan and Ukraine at 4:30 a.m. EDT.

The winner of that match will fence against the winner of France vs. Japan in the semifinals.

In Women’s Foil, the quartet of Lee Kiefer OLY, Jackie Dubrovich OLY, Lauren Scruggs and Maia Weintraub beat Poland in the quarterfinals before losing to France in a back-and-forth match, 45-42.

In the bronze medal match, Kiefer helped the team erase a 10-point deficit, but the comeback fell short, and Team USA finished in fourth.

Women’s Foil — Team (Lee Kiefer OLY, Jackie Dubrovich OLY, Lauren Scruggs, Maia Weintraub): 4th place

• Round of 32: Bye
• Round of 16: Defeated Hong Kong, China, 45-14
• Quarterfinals: Defeated Poland, 45-28
• Semifinals: Lost to France, 45-42
• Bronze Medal Match: Lost to Japan, 45-34

Women’s Saber — Team (Elizabeth Tartakovsky, Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Maia Chamberlain, Tatiana Nazlymov)

• Round of 32: Defeated India, 45-23
• Round of 16: Defeated China, 45-40

Men’s Foil — Team (Alexander Massialas OLY, Gerek Meinhardt OLY, Nick Itkin OLY, Miles Chamley-Watson OLY)

• Round of 32: Defeated Iraq, 45-12
• Round of 16: Defeated Brazil, 45-19

Find more than 100 great photos here.