Men’s Foil Team Finishes in Fourth Place

PARIS, France — The U.S. Men’s Foil Team narrowly missed the podium on the final day of fencing competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. 

The quartet of Alexander Massialas (San Francisco, Calif.), Nick Itkin (Los Angeles, Calif.), Gerek Meinhardt (Lexington, Ky.) and Miles Chamley-Watson (Los Angeles, Calif.) lost in the bronze medal match to defending Olympic champions France, 45-32, in front of a raucous French crowd.

Team USA started its day in the quarterfinals against Egypt, winning 45-35 on the strength of a strong performance from the entire team, including four-time Olympian Massialas, whose position as the anchor meant he fenced in the ninth and final round.

"I've been doing it for forever at this point,” he says. “This is my fourth Olympic Games as an anchor. So it's not pressure; it's a privilege."

That victory advanced Team USA to the semifinals against Italy, where the team never managed to overcome an early 15-10 deficit, losing 45-38. 

In the bronze medal match against France, which was hungry for another medal on fencing’s final day, Team USA lost 45-32.

That concludes fencing competition at the Olympics. Team USA won a total of four medals (2G, 1S, 1B), doubling the medal haul from Tokyo 2020.

Men’s Foil Team

Quarterfinals: Team USA def. Egypt, 45-35

Semifinals: Team USA lost to Italy, 45-38

Bronze Medal Match: Team USA lost to France, 45-32