Canadian Fencer Fares Arfa’s Olympic Journey Ends

Canadian fencer Fares Arfa’s impressive Olympic debut came to a heart-stopping conclusion on Saturday in the men’s individual sabre quarterfinals. Arfa was narrowly defeated 15-13 by South Korea’s Oh Sang-uk, ranked fourth in the world.

The 29-year-old Arfa, ranked 35th globally, made headlines earlier in the day with a stunning upset over Aron Szilagyi, the three-time defending Olympic champion from Hungary. Arfa triumphed 15-8, sending shockwaves through the fencing community.

Szilagyi, visibly stunned by the defeat, reflected on the unexpected outcome. “I’m in a bit of shock right now, so I’m not even disappointed or angry at myself yet,” he said. “It happened so fast, and I’ve never thought that my individual competition here in Paris would be so short. It’s really a shock. It’s like my opponent read me. I was an open book to him. In every touch, what he wanted, it happened. All his parries worked, all his attacks landed.”

Following his victory over Szilagyi, Arfa advanced to the round of 16, where he continued his impressive form by defeating France’s Bolade Apithy with another 15-8 scoreline.

Arfa, who was born in Algeria and resides in Laval, Quebec, has steadily built his fencing career. He competed in the last two Pan American Games and was a key member of Canada’s championship men’s sabre team at the 2023 Santiago Games.

Despite falling short in the quarterfinals, Arfa’s Olympic performance has undoubtedly marked him as a fencer to watch in future competitions. His journey in Paris showcased his skill and determination, leaving a lasting impression on the Olympic stage.