French fencer crowned after thrilling performance

Amid a resounding roar that shook the arena, fencer Kendrick Jean-Joseph of France fell to his knees, exuberantly celebrating his victory. Moments later, his elated team hoisted him into the air, joining in the joyous celebration at the Pidu Sports Centre Gymnasium in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

In the thrilling men's epee individual final, part of the Chengdu FISU World University Games on Thursday, Jean-Joseph showcased his skills and determination as he triumphed over Yan Sych of Ukraine to claim gold.

"It was a tradition for our French fencing team to celebrate like that," he said.

On Sunday afternoon, he and his teammates won gold in the men's epee team event, after defeating China in the final 45-35.

The individual final began with Jean-Joseph taking the lead in the first round, establishing a 4-point advantage. However, in the second round, Sych displayed his tenacity and skill, launching a series of successful counterattacks, closing the gap to 9-10.

The tension escalated as the two fencers fiercely battled in the third round, with Sych managing to tie the score three times from 11-11 to 13-13. Despite his remarkable efforts, 27-year-old Sych could not turn the tide. In a display of sheer determination, Jean-Joseph, the talented 22-year-old student from the Management School of Lyon, locked down the final two points to secure the coveted gold medal for France.

Jean-Joseph described the final as challenging, especially when his opponent caught up. However, thanks to the skillful guidance and composure provided by his coach, Hugues Obry, Jean-Joseph managed to maintain his focus and secure victory.

The live commentator, Graham Bell, echoed Jean-Joseph's sentiment, stating that the final was indeed intense and fiercely contested. He highlighted the exceptional coaching prowess of Obry.

"The coach that's working with him, Hugues Obry, is one of the best coaches in the world," Bell said.

Obry's illustrious career includes winning a gold medal in the team epee event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Furthermore, he showcased his exceptional coaching abilities by leading the Chinese fencing team at the Tokyo Olympics, where his guidance and expertise propelled Sun Yiwen to win the women's epee individual gold medal.

Having already claimed the title of junior world epee champion in 2021, Jean-Joseph said the gold medal at the Chengdu games meant a lot to him.

"I worked a lot this season, so it's like a gift for me and for every person who knows me," Jean-Joseph said.

The 22-year-old fencer embarked on his fencing journey 15 years ago.

"When I was young, I moved a lot with my parents, and they told me to try fencing, and I liked it and I continue to practice it," Jean-Joseph recalled.

"Thanks to fencing, I can discover the world and meet a lot of people," he said. "It's my first time in China, and it's quite amazing."

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approaching, Jean-Joseph acknowledged that he has a daunting task ahead to secure a spot on the team.

"Being a French fencer, representing France at the Olympics requires being among the very best," he said.

Bell recognized Jean-Joseph's exceptional skills and physical prowess, underscoring the fencer's potential as a rising star to watch in the coming years.