Wayne State University Athletics

Men's Fencing 8/2/2024 5:27:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Olympic Wrap-Up - Elsissy reaches semifinals in men's sabre

Elsayed makes Olympic debut in team men's epee competition.

PARIS -- Former Wayne State University All-American fencer Ziad Elsissy competed in his second Olympics this past week, while incoming freshman Mahmoud Elsayed made his Olympic debut earlier today.

Elsissy, who finished 14th in the men's sabre at the Tokyo 2020 (2021) games, began the 2024 Olympics with a 15-11 triumph over Argentina's Pascual Tella. In the round of 16, he posted a 15-13 triumph over USA's Mitchell Saron. Elsissy then edged Germany's Matyas Szabo 15-14 to reach the semifinals. He dropped a 15-11 decision to Tunisia's Fares Ferjani, followed by a 15-12 setback to Italy's Luigi Samele in the bronze medal match. Samele was the silver medalist in Tokyo in both the individual and team competition after earning a bronze medal in team competition in London (2012). Elsissy concluded the individual competition with a 3-2 mark and was even in touches (68-68).

In his previous Olympics in Tokyo, Elsissy helped the Egyptian men's sabre team place fifth. This past Wednesday in Paris, Elsissy willed the Egyptian men's sabre team to a sixth-place finish. In the 45-41 setback in the round of eight for Egypt to France, Elsissy won all three of his bouts by a combined 19-7 mark (5-1 over Sebastien Patrice, 5-2 over Maxime Pianfetti, and 9-4 over Bolade Apithy). In the relegation semifinal match vs. Canada, Elsissy suffered a 6-5 setback to Olivier Desrosiers and a 5-3 loss to Fares Arfa. Heading into the ninth and final round, Egypt trailed 40-37, but Elsissy recorded an 8-1 triumph over Shaul Gordon to give Egypt a 45-41 victory. In the 5/6 placement match vs. Italy, Elsissy posted a 5-3 win over Samele, followed by a 5-2 triumph over Pietro Torre. In the ninth and final round with Egypt trailing 40-33, Elsissy tied Luca Curatoli 5-5. Elsissy had a 6-2-1 record in his nine team sabre bouts and outscored his opponents 50-29 (+21).

Freshman Mahmoud Elsayed, the younger brother of former WSU fencer Ahmed Elsayed, was selected as an alternate for the men's team epee competition by the Egyptian Fencing Federation.

Mahmoud was subbed in after three of the nine rounds against France in the round of eight (France was the top seed and Egypt was seeded eighth). After falling 5-4 to Yannick Borel, Elsayed posted a 9-5 win over Romain Cannone as Egypt dropped a 45-39 decision. In the relegation semifinal match vs. Kazakhstan, Elsayed competed in all three rounds posting an 0-2-1 mark. He tied Ruslan Kurbanov (2-2), before being edged by Elmir Alimzhanov (3-1) and Yerlik Sertay (4-0) as Egypt fell 36-21. In the 7/8 placement match, Egypt was outscored 41-35 by Venezuela. After tying Grabiel Lugo 5-5, Elsayed fell to Ruben Limardo Gascon and Jesus Limardo by identical 4-2 scores.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Ahmed Elsayed: Epee; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Ahmed Elsayed
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: Epee