Fencing | Eleanor Harvey wins bronze in individual foil

For the first time in its history, Canada won a medal in fencing. Ontario’s Eleanor Harvey won bronze in foil.

She defeated Italian Alice Volpi by a score of 15-12. Volpi was the favorite, considering her third position among the top seeds in the discipline.

Harvey started the duel like a lion, quickly winning by a score of 6-2. Her opponent, experienced, did not let herself be imposed. Very aggressive, she charged at the Canadian, who was forced to retreat. This strategy allowed Volpi to level the score at 10-10.

Harvey, with excellent counterattacks, however, managed to stop the bleeding. When she was awarded the victory, she seemed completely shocked, incredulous. She pointed at her face, impassive. She did not seem to realize what she had just accomplished.

Her performance therefore gives Canada a second medal at these Games. Yesterday, swimmer Summer McIntosh won silver in the 400m freestyle.

Big surprise

Earlier today, Eleanor Harvey fell in the semifinals, losing to American Lauren Scruggs 15-9.

Harvey, the twelfth seed, caused a first surprise this morning by beating the Italian Martina Favaretto. Her victory was obtained in the nick of time, by a score of 15-14.

She also beat Poland’s Julia Walczyk-Klimaszyk 15-6 in the round of 16 and China’s Wang Yuting 12-8 in the opening round.

Proud in defeat

In another measure, Canadian Fares Arfa also caused a surprise in fencing on Saturday. In the individual event of the first round in sabre, he ousted Hungarian Áron Szilágyi. The latter had won gold at the last three Olympic Games.

Arfa, considered 27^e seeded, had never done better than a 16^e place in the World Championships.

He then defeated the Frenchman Boladé Apithy, the 11^e seeded. His path ended in the semi-final, against the Korean Oh Sang-uk, third seed.