Fencing at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Qualification

This article details the qualifying phase for fencing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The competition will comprise a total of 212 fencers, with an equal distribution between men and women, coming from the different NOCs, similar to the Tokyo 2020 roster size. Qualified NOCs can enter a maximum of eighteen fencers (nine per gender), with each consisting of a trio, whether men's or women's, across all weapon-based team events (foil, épée, and sabre).[2]

About two-thirds of the total quota will be attributed to the world's top fencers based on the points accrued in the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) Official Ranking between April 3, 2023 and April 1, 2024, with further individual places available at each of the four zonal qualifying tournaments (Africa, Asia & Oceania, Europe, and the Americas).[2]

The team events will offer eight to nine spots for all registered NOCs competing in each weapon. Each team must be composed of three fencers (or a fencing trio). The top four teams in each weapon will qualify directly for the Games, with the next set of places assigned to the highest-ranked nation from each of the continental zones (Africa, Asia & Oceania, Europe, and the Americas) between fifth and sixteenth position. If a zone does not field any teams within the specific ranking (from fifth to sixteenth place), the top-ranked team eligible for qualification will secure a spot irrespective of the continent.[2][1]

For the individual events, quota places vary from a minimum of 34 to a maximum of 37. With the team members directly entered into their respective individual competitions, six more places will be awarded to the eligible fencers based on the FIE Adjusted Official Ranking list by the continental zone of April 1, 2024: the top two fencers each from Europe and Asia & Oceania; and the highest-ranked fencer each from the Americas and Africa. The zonal qualifying tournaments will offer four available spots with one each to the NOCs without a qualified fencer, male or female, in one or more weapons by the two previous pathways.[2][1]

Host nation France reserves six fencing spots to be distributed between the team and individual events apart from the qualified fencers through the pathways mentioned above, respecting the maximum quota of athletes per NOC (three per weapon). If the French fencers qualified directly for the team event, they can use two quota places if the NOC contains a single qualified fencer in a corresponding individual event; or three if none of them compete in a corresponding individual event. Two further spots, along with those unused by the host country, will be attributed to the eligible NOCs interested to have their fencers compete in Paris under the Universality rules, respecting the 37-fencer limit for each weapon-based individual event.[2][1]

Olga Kharlan qualification in women's sabre

Since July 1, 2020 (and reconfirmed by FIE public notice in September 2020 and in January 2021), by public written notice the FIE had replaced its previous handshake requirement with a "salute" by the opposing fencers, and written in its public notice that handshakes were "suspended until further notice."[3][4][5][6][7] Nevertheless, in July 2023 when Ukrainian four-time world fencing individual sabre champion Olga Kharlan was disqualified at the World Fencing Championships by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime for not shaking the hand of her defeated Russian opponent, though Kharlan instead offered a tapping of blades in acknowledgement, Bach stepped in the next day.[8][9] As President of the IOC, he sent a letter to Kharlan in which he expressed empathy for her, and wrote that in light of the situation she was being guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[10][11] He wrote further: "as a fellow fencer, it is impossible for me to imagine how you feel at this moment. The war against your country, the suffering of the people in Ukraine, the uncertainty around your participation at the Fencing World Championships ... and then the events which unfolded yesterday - all this is a roller coaster of emotions and feelings. It is admirable how you are managing this incredibly difficult situation, and I would like to express my full support to you. Rest assured that the IOC will continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine."[12]

Timeline

SectionDateVenue
FIE Official Ranking (start)April 3, 2023
FIE Official Ranking (end)April 1, 2024
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – Africa April 15–30, 2024 TBA
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – Europe
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – Asia & Oceania
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – America

Qualification summary

NationMenWomenTotal
IndividualTeamIndividualTeam
ÉpéeFoilSabreÉpéeFoilSabreÉpéeFoilSabreÉpéeFoilSabre
Total: 0 NOCs0000000000000

Men's events

Men's épée

StandardPlacesQualified fencer
Qualified team members24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania2
 
Top individual AOR: Africa1
Top individual AOR: America1
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe2
 
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania1
Zonal tournament: Africa1
Zonal tournament: America1
Zonal tournament: Europe1
Host country option1
Total34

Men's team épée

StandardPlacesQualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking4
 
 
 
Top team from Africa in positions 5–161
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–161
Top team from America in positions 5–161
Top team from Europe in positions 5–161
Host country option1
Total9

Men's foil

StandardPlacesQualified fencer
Qualified team members24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania2
 
Top individual AOR: Africa1
Top individual AOR: America1
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe2
 
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania1
Zonal tournament: Africa1
Zonal tournament: America1
Zonal tournament: Europe1
Host country option1
Total34

Men's team foil

StandardPlacesQualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking4
 
 
 
Top team from Africa in positions 5–161
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–161
Top team from America in positions 5–161
Top team from Europe in positions 5–161
Host country option1
Total9

Men's sabre

StandardPlacesQualified fencer
Qualified team members24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania2
 
Top individual AOR: Africa1
Top individual AOR: America1
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe2
 
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania1
Zonal tournament: Africa1
Zonal tournament: America1
Zonal tournament: Europe1
Host country option1
Total34

Men's team sabre

StandardPlacesQualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking4
 
 
 
Top team from Africa in positions 5–161
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–161
Top team from America in positions 5–161
Top team from Europe in positions 5–161
Host country option1
Total9

Women's events

Women's épée

StandardPlacesQualified fencer
Qualified team members24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania2
 
Top individual AOR: Africa1
Top individual AOR: America1
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe2
 
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania1
Zonal tournament: Africa1
Zonal tournament: America1
Zonal tournament: Europe1
Host country option1
Total34

Women's team épée

StandardPlacesQualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking4
 
 
 
Top team from Africa in positions 5–161
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–161
Top team from America in positions 5–161
Top team from Europe in positions 5–161
Host country option1
Total9

Women's foil

StandardPlacesQualified fencer
Qualified team members24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania2
 
Top individual AOR: Africa1
Top individual AOR: America1
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe2
 
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania1
Zonal tournament: Africa1
Zonal tournament: America1
Zonal tournament: Europe1
Host country option1
Total34

Women's team foil

StandardPlacesQualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking4
 
 
 
Top team from Africa in positions 5–161
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–161
Top team from America in positions 5–161
Top team from Europe in positions 5–161
Host country option1
Total9

Women's sabre

StandardPlacesQualified fencer
Qualified team members24
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania2
 
Top individual AOR: Africa1
Top individual AOR: America1
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe2
 
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania1
Zonal tournament: Africa1
Zonal tournament: America1
Zonal tournament: Europe1
Host country option1
Additional quota 1  Olha Kharlan (UKR)[notes 1]
Total34/35

Women's team sabre

StandardPlacesQualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking4
 
 
 
Top team from Africa in positions 5–161
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–161
Top team from America in positions 5–161
Top team from Europe in positions 5–161
Host country option1
Total9

Notes

  1. The IOC allocated an extra qualification slot for Kharlan as a result of her controversial disqualification from the 2023 World Fencing Championships.

References

  1. "Qualification System – Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – Fencing" (PDF). FIE. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. Fava, Gisella; Kim, EJ Monica; Martín, Marta (13 December 2022). "How to qualify for fencing at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. Jomantas, Nicole (6 March 2020). "Handshaking Rule Suspended at USA Fencing Events". USA Fencing.
  4. Hopkins, Amanda (12 March 2020). "Oceania U20s and Handshaking Rule". Fencing New Zealand.
  5. "Handshaking Rule Temporarily Suspended". British Fencing. 5 March 2020.
  6. "FIE OUTLINE of RISK-MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS for NATIONAL FENCING FEDERATIONS and COMPETITION ORGANIZERS in the CONTEXT of COVID-19; PREPARED by FIE TASK FORCE and REVIEWED by FIE MEDICAL COMMISSION and FIE LEGAL COMMISSION," FIE, 1 July 2020 and September 2020.
  7. "FIE OUTLINE of RISK-MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS for NATIONAL FENCING FEDERATIONS and COMPETITION ORGANISERS in the CONTEXT of COVID-19 (FORMIR – COVID-19) PREPARED by FIE TASK FORCE and REVIEWED by FIE MEDICAL COMMISSION and FIE LEGAL COMMISSION," FIE, January 2021.]
  8. "World Fencing Championships: Ukraine's Olga Kharlan disqualified for refusing Russian Anna Smirnov's handshake". BBC. 27 July 2023.
  9. Aadi Nair (27 July 2023). "Ukrainian fencer disqualified from world championships for refusing handshake with Russian opponent; Olga Kharlan offered to touch blades after beating Anna Smirnova, who then staged a sit-down protest at the handshake refusal". The Independent.
  10. "Ukrainian fencer won't shake hands with Russian at world championships, gets Olympic spot". USA TODAY.
  11. Yevhen Kizilov (28 July 2023). "Ukrainian fencer gets automatically qualified for Olympics". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
    "Russia-Ukraine conflict: Fencer Olga Kharlan ban lifted as she is handed Olympic spot". BBC Sport. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  12. "Ukraine's Kharlan assured of Paris 2024 place by IOC after handshake furore". Inside the Games. 28 July 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.