Fencing is one of the most diverse sports there is, with a rich history dating back to antiquity. Over the centuries, countless talented fencers have distinguished themselves, turning the practice into an art and gaining worldwide recognition.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the 20 best male fencers of all time. Through this ranking, you’ll get to know some of the greatest athletes in this sport, their life stories, titles and much more.
Among the best male fencers of all time are names that have not only accumulated titles, but also profoundly influenced the sport as a whole.
Edoardo Mangiarotti, Aladar Gerevich, Nedo Nadi and Christian d’Oriola are some of the examples of athletes who transcended competition and became icons of their eras.
So let’s find out who are the best male fencers of all time?
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Top 20 male fencers of all time: complete list
- Edoardo Mangiarotti
- Aladar Gerevich
- Nedo Nadi
- Christian d’Oriola
- László Papp
- Viktor Krovopuskov
- Jean-François Lamour
- Pavel Kolobkov
- Giorgio Santelli
- Helene Mayer
- Ramón Fonst
- Arnd Schmitt
- Alexander Romankov
- Aldo Montano
- Philippe Omnès
- Stanislav Pozdnyakov
- Viktor Sidyak
- Valentina Vezzali
- Jerzy Pawłowski
- Andrea Cassarà
20 best male fencers of all time: find out more about the athletes
1. Edoardo Mangiarotti (Italy)
- Titles: 13 Olympic medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze), 26 World Championship medals.
- Team: Società del Giardino, Circolo Scherma Fides.
- Fun facts: He was the most successful fencer in terms of Olympic medals until he was surpassed in other disciplines.
- Life Story: Born in 1919, he began training in fencing with his father, who was a coach. He took part in five Olympics from 1936 to 1960.
2. Aladar Gerevich (Hungary)
- Titles: 7 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver and 2 bronzes; several medals at World Championships.
- Team: BVSC Budapest.
- Fun facts: He won medals in six consecutive Olympics (1932-1960).
- Life Story: Born in 1910, he is considered one of the greatest sabre fencers of all time. He trained under his father and grandfather.
3. Nedo Nadi (Italy)
- Titles: 6 Olympic gold medals, including five in a single Olympics (1920).
- Team: Club Scherma Torino.
- Fun facts: The only fencer to win gold medals in all three fencing disciplines (foil, sword and sabre) at the same Olympics.
- Life Story: Born in 1894, he began fencing as a child under the guidance of his father, Giuseppe Nadi.
4. Christian d’Oriola (France)
- Titles: 4 Olympic gold medals, 2 silver; 6 world titles.
- Team: Societe d’Escrime de Perpignan.
- Fun facts: He was the flag-bearer for the French delegation at the 1960 Games.
- Life Story: Born in 1928, he began practicing fencing under the influence of his uncle. He mastered the foil discipline in the 1950s.
5. László Papp (Hungary)
- Titles: Olympic sabre team champion (1948).
- Team: MTK Budapest.
- Fun facts: He was also an accomplished boxer, winning three Olympic gold medals in boxing.
- Life Story: Born in 1926, his sporting career was divided between fencing and boxing.
6. Viktor Krovopuskov (Russia)
- Titles: 4 Olympic gold medals in sabre (individual and team).
- Team: Dynamo Moscow.
- Fun facts: He was considered unbeatable during the 1970s.
- Life Story: Born in 1948, he started fencing at a young age and dominated international competitions in the 1970s.
7. Jean-François Lamour (France)
- Titles: 2 Olympic gold medals in sabre, 2 bronzes; 3 world titles.
- Team: Levallois Sporting Club.
- Fun facts: Became France’s Minister for Youth and Sport.
- Life Story: Born in 1956, he started fencing at the age of 10 and has had a successful career in both sport and politics.
8. Pavel Kolobkov (Russia)
- Titles: 6 Olympic medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), multiple world titles.
- Team: Dynamo Moscow.
- Fun facts: Also served as Russia’s Sports Minister.
- Life Story: Born in 1969, he dominated sword fencing in the 1990s and 2000s.
9. Giorgio Santelli (Italy/USA)
- Titles: World foil champion.
- Team: U.S. Fencing Association.
- Fun facts: He emigrated to the USA and became a renowned coach.
- Life Story: Born in 1897, he was one of the first Italians to train American fencers.
10. Helene Mayer (Germany/USA)
- Titles: Olympic gold medal in foil (1928).
- Team: Fencing Club Offenbach.
- Fun facts: Competed under the US flag after the rise of Nazism.
- Life Story: Born in 1910, one of the few women to achieve international success at a time dominated by men.
11. Ramón Fonst (Cuba)
- Titles: 4 Olympic gold medals, 1 silver.
- Team: Club de Esgrima de la Habana.
- Fun facts: First Latin American to win an Olympic medal.
- Life Story: Born in 1883, he was a pioneer of fencing in Latin America.
12. Arnd Schmitt (Germany)
- Titles: 3 Olympic medals (2 gold, 1 silver), multiple world titles.
- Team: TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
- Fun facts: Doctor by profession.
- Life Story: Born in 1965, he had a long international career in fencing.
13. Alexander Romankov (Belarus)
- Titles: 5 Olympic medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze), several world titles.
- Team: Dynamo Minsk.
- Fun facts: Considered one of the greatest foil fencers of all time.
- Life Story: Born in 1953, he began fencing at the age of 10 and competed for more than two decades.
14. Aldo Montano (Italy)
- Titles: Olympic gold medal in sabre, several world medals.
- Team: Fiamme Azzurre.
- Fun facts: Part of a family of champion fencers.
- Life Story: Born in 1978, his grandfather and father were also fencing champions.
15. Philippe Omnès (France)
- Titles: Olympic gold medal in foil (1992), several world medals.
- Team: Racing Club de France.
- Fun facts: Known for his refined technique.
- Life Story: Born in 1960, he began fencing as a child and became one of the best foilists of his time.
16. Stanislav Pozdnyakov (Russia)
- Titles: 5 Olympic medals (4 gold, 1 bronze), multiple world titles.
- Team: Dynamo Moscow.
- Fun facts: Served as president of the Russian Olympic Committee.
- Life Story: Born in 1973, he was a dominant force in sabre during his career.
17. Viktor Sidyak (Russia)
- Titles: 4 Olympic gold medals, 2 silver; several world medals.
- Team: CSKA Moscow.
- Fun facts: Known for his aggressive style.
- Life Story: Born in 1943, he competed in four Olympics and was one of the greatest sword fencers of his era.
18. Valentina Vezzali (Italy)
- Titles: 9 Olympic medals (6 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze), multiple world titles.
- Team: CS Jesi.
- Fun facts: Considered the greatest fencer of all time.
- Life Story: Born in 1974, she dominated women’s foil fencing for over a decade.
19. Jerzy Pawłowski (Poland)
- Titles: Olympic gold medal in sabre (1968), several world medals.
- Team: Legia Warsaw.
- Fun facts: Also competed in the Modern Pentathlon World Championships.
- Life Story: Born in 1932, he had a controversial career, including an arrest for espionage.
20. Andrea Cassarà (Italy)
- Titles: 4 Olympic medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), multiple world titles.
- Team: Fiamme Oro.
- Fun facts: Specializes in foil.
- Life Story: Born in 1984, he is known for his consistency and longevity in the sport.
Top 20 male fencers of all time: complete list
- Edoardo Mangiarotti
- Aladar Gerevich
- Nedo Nadi
- Christian d’Oriola
- László Papp
- Viktor Krovopuskov
- Jean-François Lamour
- Pavel Kolobkov
- Giorgio Santelli
- Helene Mayer
- Ramón Fonst
- Arnd Schmitt
- Alexander Romankov
- Aldo Montano
- Philippe Omnès
- Stanislav Pozdnyakov
- Viktor Sidyak
- Valentina Vezzali
- Jerzy Pawłowski
- Andrea Cassarà
20 best male fencers of all time
Fencing, with its rich tradition and complexity, is a sport that requires not only physical skill, but also a strategic mind and intense dedication to training. So nothing could be fairer than recognizing these athletes.
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