USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Both of Team USA’s epee fencers earned fourth-place finishes at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China on Monday.

A medalist at both the Junior and Cadet Worlds this year, Justin Yoo (La Verne, Calif.) finished the men’s epee pool rounds as the only fencer with an undefeated (5-0) record which earned him a bye into the quarter-finals.

Yoo advanced to the medal rounds after a 15-12 win against Myeongki Kim (KOR). The American held his semifinal bout at a tie at 5-5 against Linus Islas Flygare (SWE) after the first period, but dropped the bout, 15-9.

Yoo fenced Ivan Limarev (RUS) for bronze, but lost a fast-paced bout, 15-14, in the second period.

Kasia Nixon (Los Angeles, Calif.), a 2014 Cadet World bronze medalist, also came out of the pools as the top seed after she posted a 4-0 record.

After a bye into the quarter-finals and a 15-10 victory against Tia Simms-Lymn (JAM), Nixon took a 10-8 lead against 2014 Cadet World Champion Eleonora de Marchi (ITA) after the first two periods of the semis. De Marchi outscored Nixon in the third period to win the bout, 15-11.

Nixon faced 2014 Cadet World bronze medalist Asa Linde (SWE) in the bronze medal final, but couldn’t defend herself against Linde who scored 11 touches in the second period for a 15-8 victory.

Competition will conclude in the individual events on Tuesday when 2014 Cadet World silver medalist George Haglund (Califon, N.J.) will represent Team USA in the men’s foil event.

For complete results, visit www.nanjing2014.org.

Top eight results are as follows:

Youth Olympic Games Men’s Epee
1. Patrik Esztergalyos (HUN)
2. Linus Islas Flygare (SWE)
3. Ivan Limarev (RUS)
4. Justin Yoo (La Verne, Calif.)
5. Samuel Unterhauser (GER)
6. Kei Hsu Albert Chien (HKG)
7. Myeongki Kim (KOR)
8. Dylan French (CAN)

Youth Olympic Games Women’s Epee
1. Sinhee Lee (KOR)
2. Eleonora de Marchi (ITA)
3. Asa Linde (SWE)
4. Kasia Nixon (Los Angeles, Calif.)
5. Anna Maria Mroszczak (POL)
6. Miho Yoshimura (JPN)
7. Tia Simms-Lymn (JAM)
8. Inna Brovko (UKR)