Japan Captures Gold in the Men's Fencing Team Foil Event

Japan won the men's foil team title for the first time on Sunday, August 4, moving the nation to the top of the fencing medal table at the Paris Olympics.

In front of a packed and noisy crowd at the Grand Palais, Japan relied on accuracy and determination en route to the 45-36 victory over Italy.

Both sides displayed brilliant technique and athleticism, but it was the team of Kazuki Iimura, Kyosuke Matsuyama, Takahiro Shikine and substitute Yudai Nagano that joined Koki Kano in winning fencing gold medals for Japan at the Paris Games.

"We still can't believe what we achieved today," Matsuyama said. "This means a lot for the future of fencing in Japan, and I hope that in the next Olympics and in the future, many more Japanese will take up fencing and win more medals."

Japan got off to a promising start with Shikine producing a 5-3 victory over Tommaso Marini in the first period. Iimura built on the lead, adding a further win over Guillaume Bianchi.

Italy bounced back as Filippo Macchi delivered a 7-5 victory over Matsuyama in the third period, and Bianchi rebounded to beat Shikine 6-3 in the fourth frame.

The two countries tied the next period and then Japan seized the momentum.

Decisive Moment in the Fencing Match

Iimura entered the piste for the second time in the match and decimated Macchi's defense, giving Japan a two-touch lead heading into the final three periods.

Bianchi reduced Japan's lead to 35-34 in the seventh period and then both countries called on their substitutes for the eighth where Nagano beat Alessio Foconi to give Japan a 40-34 lead.

Iimura defeated Marini to win his third period of the match and Japan celebrated its historic gold medal.

"My teammates did well to pass the baton on to me and I just felt I had to finish the job," Iimura said, according to Kyodo News. "We were able to draw strength from the fans here in Paris and people cheering us on back home in the middle of the night."

It was the first medal in the event for Japan since it won the silver at the 2012 London Games.

Successful Olympics for Japan's Fencing Participants

The foil team gold capped a hugely successful outing for Japan in fencing at the Paris Games. 

Kano won gold in the men's individual epee, the men's epee team took silver, and the women's foil and sabre teams won bronze.

Japan finished the Olympic fencing competition on top of the table with five medals, one more than the United States. South Korea was third with three medals.

Before the Paris Games, Japan had won just three total medals in fencing.

The French team of Enzo Lefort, Maxime Pauty and Maximilien Chastanet defeated the United States 45-32 to win the bronze medal.

RELATED:

• Japan Women Grab the Bronze for Nation's 1st-Ever Sabre Fencing Medal at Olympics
• Japan Men Collect Epee Fencing Silver After a Sudden-Death OT Loss to Hungary
• Koki Kano Gives Japan Its First Individual Olympic Gold in Fencing
• Japan Fencing Squad Holds off Canada to Take the Bronze in Women's Team Foil

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.