The Italian national fencing team has secured its position atop the provisional medal standings at the World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong, collecting 5 individual medals—1 gold and 4 silvers—through the first phase of competition. The crowning moment came when 24-year-old Martina Favaretto claimed her first individual world title in women's foil, defeating veteran teammate Arianna Errigo 15-7 in an all-Italian final that underscored the nation's dominance in the discipline.
Why This Matters:
• Generational transition in action: Favaretto's victory over 38-year-old Errigo signals the arrival of a new generation capable of matching—and now surpassing—Italy's established champions.
• Historic milestone for Errigo: The silver medal marks Errigo's 24th world championship medal, a record tally in women's foil history spanning 17 years.
• Team events still ahead: With squad competitions beginning July 28, Italy's final medal count could climb significantly higher.
A Changing of the Guard
The women's foil final in Hong Kong crystallized a narrative that has been building across Italian fencing for the past two years: the seamless blending of youthful ambition with veteran excellence. Favaretto, born in Camposampiero in 2001 and a member of the Fiamme Oro sports group, has steadily climbed the international rankings since her silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her triumph in Hong Kong—a decisive 15-7 victory—represents not just a personal breakthrough but a broader shift in the competitive landscape.
Errigo, meanwhile, continues to compete at the highest level. At 38, she remains a fixture on international podiums, her latest silver extending a world championship career that began in Antalya in 2009. With 10 world golds, 8 silvers, and 6 bronzes, she has amassed more world medals than any fencer in the history of women's foil, surpassing legends like Valentina Vezzali (16 world titles) in total hardware. Her four Olympic medals—including gold in London 2012—add to a résumé that has made her a reference point for younger athletes.
Italy's Medal Haul: Depth Across Disciplines
Beyond the foil drama, the Italian Fencing Federation celebrated a strong showing across multiple weapons. Davide Di Veroli captured silver in men's épée, falling to Switzerland's Lucas Malcotti in the final. Giulia Rizzi, a 35-year-old épée specialist and Olympic champion from Paris 2024, added another world silver to her collection. Filippo Macchi rounded out the individual medal count with silver in men's foil.
The breadth of Italy's success—spanning both genders and three weapons—reflects the depth of talent cultivated through the federation's regional training centers and the enduring apprenticeship model with master fencers. This system has proven especially effective in women's fencing, where Italy has produced a continuous pipeline of world-class competitors for over two decades.
What This Means for Italian Sports Fans
For those following Italian athletics, the Hong Kong results reinforce the country's status as a fencing superpower. The sport enjoys growing popularity domestically, particularly among women and under-30 participants, following the visibility boost from the Paris Olympics. A 2024 market survey indicated that fencing is increasingly viewed as a flagship "Made in Italy" export, admired for both results and the values it transmits.
The team events, which begin July 28, offer Italy the chance to extend its lead. The women's foil squad has won five consecutive European titles and remains the favorite entering the Hong Kong team rounds. If Italy's individual performances are any indication, the final medal tally could be substantially higher by the time the championships conclude on July 30.
Favaretto's Steady Ascent
Favaretto's path to world champion has been methodical. A former youth prodigy who won Grand Prix gold in the ragazze and allieve categories in 2014 and 2015, she has accumulated an impressive senior résumé: team world golds in Cairo 2022 and Milan 2023, individual bronzes at Milan 2023 and Tbilisi 2025, and European team titles in 2022 and 2024. Her individual silver at the 2023 European Championships in Plovdiv signaled her arrival among the elite.
In 2026 alone, she has captured World Cup gold in Istanbul and Cairo, claimed the Italian national title in Rome by defeating Alice Volpi, and now owns the biggest prize of all: a world championship in individual foil. She balances this demanding competition schedule with law studies at the University of Padova, a testament to her discipline off the piste.
Errigo's Enduring Legacy
Errigo's career longevity stands out in modern fencing. Her 24 world medals span three Olympic cycles, and her ability to reach finals at 38—competing against athletes 14 years her junior—demonstrates both exceptional physical conditioning and tactical mastery. She has also won 5 World Cup season titles and 22 European medals, making her one of the most decorated fencers of any era.
The Hong Kong silver is her 11th individual world medal, a figure that places her among the all-time greats not just in foil but across all fencing disciplines. Her presence in the final assured Italy of gold regardless of the outcome, a luxury few nations enjoy.
The Broader Picture: Italy's Fencing Ecosystem
Italy's dominance in fencing reflects decades of systematic investment and development. The Federazione Italiana Scherma (FIS) operates a sophisticated system that identifies talent early and nurtures it through a network of clubs and national training centers. The traditional maestro d'armi—master fencer—model remains central, with coaches passing down technique and tactical knowledge across generations.
This infrastructure has proven particularly effective in women's fencing, where Italy fields competitive squads in all three weapons. In épée, veterans like Rizzi, Alberta Santuccio, and Rossella Fiamingo have maintained top form well into their 30s, even as younger athletes like Sara Maria Kowalczyk (also born in 2001) and under-23 standout Gaia Caforio push from behind.
This depth ensures Italy can field multiple medal contenders in any given event, raising the floor and ceiling for national success. It also creates intense internal competition: at the Hong Kong worlds, both Martina Batini (5th) and Anna Cristino (6th) narrowly missed the podium in women's foil, underlining the quality required just to make an Italian team.
Looking Ahead: Team Events and Paris 2028
With individual competition concluded, attention shifts to the team rounds. Italy's women's foil squad—anchored by Favaretto, Errigo, Volpi, and others—will be heavily favored. The men's foil and women's épée teams also carry realistic medal hopes.
Beyond Hong Kong, the results offer a glimpse of Italy's prospects for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Favaretto's emergence as a world champion at 24 suggests she will enter the next Olympic cycle in peak form. Whether Errigo continues to 2028—she would be 40—remains an open question, but her Hong Kong performance proves age is no barrier to elite competition.
For now, Italy can savor its position atop the world fencing hierarchy, a status built on decades of investment, coaching excellence, and a culture that prizes both individual brilliance and collective success.
