Fencing at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's épée

Men's épée
at the Games of the II Olympiad
Men's épée; at the Games of the II Olympiad
	Gold medalist Ramón Fonst
Venue	Tuileries Garden
Dates	1–14 June
Competitors	102 from 11 nations
Medalists
	1904 →

The épée event for amateurs was one of three épée events at the 1900 Summer Olympics. 102 fencers from 11 nations competed, with 91 of them from France.^[1] The event was won by Ramón Fonst of Cuba, the first of his two golds in individual épée. Silver and bronze both went to host nation fencers, Louis Perrée and Léon Sée. These badly organized games — derisively called “The Farcical Games” — were so poorly publicized that years later, even the competitors were clueless that they had competed in the Olympics in 1900.^[2] No official records for the games exist.^[2] These accomplishments are not even mentioned in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.^[3] This was the first appearance of the event, as only foil and sabre events had been held at the first Games in 1896; the Men's épée event has been held at every Summer Olympics since 1900.^[1]

Competition format

The event used a four-round format: round 1, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. Each round consisted of pool play. For round 1, the fencers were divided into 17 pools of 6 or 7 fencers each; the top two fencers in each pool advanced to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals were intended to divide the 34 fencers into 6 pools of 5 or 6 fencers each; after 3 men withdrew, the round consisted of 5 pools of 6 fencers plus a special pool of the last remaining fencer plus 4 of the losers from the first 5 pools. The top 3 fencers in each pool advanced to the semifinals. The semifinals had the 18 men compete in 3 pools of 6, with the top 3 in each pool advancing to a 9-man final.

The actual competition format within pools is not entirely clear. Only results from the final are known. In the final, each fencer had 5 or 6 bouts (rather than 8, which would be the number if a full round-robin were held). The top places were determined by number of wins, with a barrage held when two fencers finished with 4 wins (though one had only 1 loss while the other had 2).^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Round
Friday, 1 June 1900		Round 1 pools A–D
2–5 June 1900		Round 1 pools E–L
Wednesday, 6 June 1900		Round 1 pools M–Q
7–9 June 1900	9:00	Quarterfinals
Sunday, 10 June 1900		Semifinals
Wednesday, 13 June 1900		Final
Thursday, 14 June 1900		Final, continued

Results

Round 1

The first round of the event consisted of pool play round-robin tournaments. Each fencer faced each other fencer once. Of the 17 pools, 15 had six fencers each and 2 had seven. The top two placers in each advanced to the quarterfinals.

Pool A

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Joseph-Marie Rosé	France	Q
2	Élie, Count de Lastours	France	Q
3–6	H. Georges Berger	France
	Luquetas	France
	Mosso	France
	André Tintant	France	/^[4]^[2]

Pool B

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Jules de Pradel	France	Q
2	Jean Dreyfus	France	Q
3–6	Jacques de la Chevalerie	France
	Gardiès	France
	Hérrison	France
	Ivan Ivanovitch	France

Pool C

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Jules Roffe	France	Q
2	Édouard Fouchier	France	Q
3–6	Pierre Georges Louis d'Hugues	France
	Moreil	France
	Max Rodrigues	France
	Véve	France

Pool D

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Ramón Fonst	Cuba	Q
2	Edmond Wallace	France	Q
3	Willy Sulzbacher	France^[5]
4–6	Bazin	France
	Maurice Fleury	France
	Pierre Thomegeux	France

Pool E

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Gaston Alibert	France	Q
2	Georges de la Falaise	France	Q
3–6	Olivier Collarini	Italy
	Grad	France
	Massé	France
	Achille Morin	France

Pool F

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Jean-Joseph Renaud	France	Q
2	Maurice Boisdon	France	Q
3–6	Laurent de Champeaux	France
	Charles Loizillon	France
	Salvanahac	France
	de Segonzac	France

Pool G

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Henri Plommet	France	Q
2	Léon Thiébaut	France	Q
3	Lariviére	France
4–6	Adam	France
	Robert Marc	France
	Jean Taillefer	France

Pool H

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	André-Marie Rabel	France	Q
2	Josiah Bowden	Great Britain	Q
3–6	de Lastic	France
	Georges Leroy	France
	Miller	France
	Ivan, Viscount d'Oyley	United States^[6]

Pool I

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Richard Wallace	France	Q
2	Freydoun Malkom	Iran	Q
3–6	Marie Joseph Anatole Elie	France
	de Laugardière	France
	Georges Redeuil	France
	Joseph Sénat	France

Pool J

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Marcel Lévy	France	Q
2	Maurice Jay	France	Q
3–6	Henri de Laborde	France
	Adjutant Lemoine	France
	Charles Robinson	Great Britain
	André de Romilly	France

Pool K

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Giuseppe Giurato	Italy	Q
2	Raoul Bideau	France	Q
3–6	Clément de Boissière	France
	Albert Cahen	France
	Fernandès	France
	de la Tournable	France

Pool L

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Alexandre Guillemand	France	Q
2	Jacques Holzschuch	France	Q
3	Ducreuil	France
4–6	Andreac	France
	Costiesco	France
	Paul Robert	Switzerland

Pool M

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Léon Sée	France	Q
2	Eduardo Camet	Argentina	Q
3–6	Carlos de Candamo	Peru
	Mauricio, 4th Duke of Gor	Spain
	de Meuse	France
	Joseph Rodrigues	France

Pool N

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Henri Hébrard de Villeneuve	France	Q
2	Alphonse Moquet	France	Q
3–7	de Cazenove	France
	René Jules Thion de la Chaume	France
	de Pradines	France
	Prosper	France
	Pierre Rosenbaum	France

Pool O

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Louis Perrée	France	Q
2	Henri-Georges Berger	France	Q
3–6	Louis Bastien	France
	Stan François	France
	Peberay	France
	Preurot	France

Pool P

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Tony Smet	Belgium	Q
2	Henri Jean Début	France	Q
3–7	Gaston Achille	France
	Duclos	France
	Giunio Fedreghini	Italy
	Fichot	France
	Weber	France

Pool Q

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Adrien Guyon	France	Q
2	Jean-André Hilleret	France	Q
3–6	Delprat	France
	Lafontaine	France
	Adolphe Thomegeux	France
	de Vars	France

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were again round-robin affairs. The original schedule was that there would be six pools: two would have five fencers each and four would have six fencers, with the top three in each pool to advance.

After three of the original quarterfinalists (Maurice Jay, André Rabel, and Jean-Joseph Renaud) withdrew after the draw, the quarterfinals were redrawn: there were five pools with six fencers each, while the sixth pool included Holzchuch and four fencers who had lost in other quarterfinals and were given a second chance to advance.

Quarterfinal A

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Jean Dreyfuss	France	Q
2	Henri Plommet	France	Q
3	Marcel Lévy	France	Q
4–6	Jean-André Hilleret	France
	Alphonse Moquet	France
	Jules Roffe	France

Quarterfinal B

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Richard Wallace	France	Q
2	Élie, Count de Lastours	France	Q
3	Georges de la Falaise	France	Q
4–6	Josiah Bowden	Great Britain
	Alexandre Guillemand	France
	Léon Thiébaut	France

Quarterfinal C

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Edmond Wallace	France	Q
2	Eduardo Camet	Argentina	Q
3	Jules de Pradel	France	Q
4–6	Raoul Bideau	France
	Tony Smet	Belgium
	Henri Hébrard de Villeneuve	France

Quarterfinal D

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Gaston Alibert	France	Q
2	Léon Sée	France	Q
3	Ramón Fonst	Cuba	Q
4–6	Henri-Georges Berger	France
	Giuseppe Giurato	Italy
	Freydoun Malkom	Iran

Quarterfinal E

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Maurice Boisdon	France	Q
2	Louis Perrée	France	Q
3	Joseph-Marie Rosé	France	Q
4–6	Henri Jean Début	France
	Édouard Fouchier	France
	Adrien Guyon	France

Quarterfinal F

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Jacques Holzschuch	France	Q
2	Léon Thiébaut	France	Q
3	Alexandre Guillemand	France	Q
4–5	Unknown^[7]

Semifinals

The semifinals, with 18 fencers left, were conducted in three pools of round-robin play. Each pool had six fencers, with the top three advancing to the final.

Semifinal A

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Gaston Alibert	France	Q
2	Henri Plommet	France	Q
3	Léon Sée	France	Q
4–6	Élie, Count de Lastours	France
	Jacques Holzschuch	France
	Joseph-Marie Rosé	France

Semifinal B

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Georges de la Falaise	France	Q
2	Louis Perrée	France	Q
3	Eduardo Camet	Argentina	Q
4–6	Maurice Boisdon	France
	Jean Dreyfuss	France
	Jules de Pradel	France

Semifinal C

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Notes
1	Léon Thiébaut	France	Q
2	Edmond Wallace	France	Q
3	Ramón Fonst	Cuba	Q
4–6	Alexandre Guillemand	France
	Marcel Lévy	France
	Richard Wallace	France

Final

In the final, each fencer had either 5 or 6 bouts. Fonst and Perrée initially tied for first with 4 wins each, then Fonst won the barrage to break the tie.

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
	Ramón Fonst	Cuba	4	2
	Louis Perrée	France	4	1
	Léon Sée	France	3	2
4	Georges de la Falaise	France	3	3
5	Eduardo Camet	Argentina	2	3
6	Edmond Wallace	France	2	4
7	Gaston Alibert	France	2	3
8	Léon Thiébaut	France	2	4
9	Henri Plommet	France	0	6

Results summary

Rank	Fencer	Nation	Round 1 Rank	Quarterfinals Rank	Semifinals Rank	Final Wins	Final Losses
	Ramón Fonst	Cuba	1st	3rd	3rd	4	2
	Louis Perrée	France	1st	2nd	2nd	4	1
	Léon Sée	France	1st	2nd	3rd	3	2
4	Georges de la Falaise	France	2nd	3rd	1st	3	3
5	Eduardo Camet	Argentina	2nd	2nd	3rd	2	3
6	Edmond Wallace	France	2nd	1st	2nd	2	4
7	Gaston Alibert	France	1st	1st	1st	2	3
8	Léon Thiébaut	France	2nd	2nd	1st	2	4
9	Henri Plommet	France	1st	2nd	2nd	0	6
10–18	Maurice Boisdon	France	2nd	1st	4th–6th	Did not advance
	Jean Dreyfuss	France	2nd	1st	4th–6th
	Alexandre Guillemand	France	1st	3rd	4th–6th
	Jacques Holzschuch	France	2nd	1st	4th–6th
	Élie, Count de Lastours	France	2nd	2nd	4th–6th
	Marcel Lévy	France	1st	3rd	4th–6th
	Jules de Pradel	France	1st	3rd	4th–6th
	Joseph-Marie Rosé	France	1st	3rd	4th–6th
	Richard Wallace	France	1st	1st	4th–6th
19–31	Henri-Georges Berger	France	2nd	4th–6th	Did not advance
	Raoul Bideau	France	2nd	4th–6th
	Josiah Bowden	Great Britain	2nd	4th–6th
	Henri Jean Début	France	2nd	4th–6th
	Édouard Fouchier	France	2nd	4th–6th
	Giuseppe Giurato	Italy	1st	4th–6th
	Adrien Guyon	France	1st	4th–6th
	Jean-André Hilleret	France	2nd	4th–6th
	Freydoun Malkom	Iran	2nd	4th–6th
	Alphonse Moquet	France	2nd	4th–6th
	Jules Roffe	France	1st	4th–6th
	Tony Smet	Belgium	1st	4th–6th
	Henri Hébrard de Villeneuve	France	1st	4th–6th
32	Maurice Jay	France	2nd	DNS
	André Rabel	France	1st	DNS
	Jean-Joseph Renaud	France	1st	DNS
35–104	Gaston Achille	France	3rd–7th	Did not advance
	Adam	France	4th–6th
	Andreac	France	4th–6th
	Louis Bastien	France	3rd–6th
	Bazin	France	4th–6th
	H. Georges Berger	France	3rd–6th
	Clément de Boissière	France	3rd–6th
	Albert Cahen	France	3rd–6th
	Carlos de Candamo	Peru	3rd–6th
	de Cazenove	France	3rd–7th
	Laurent de Champeaux	France	3rd–6th
	René Jules Thion de la Chaume	France	3rd–7th
	Jacques de la Chevalerie	France	3rd–6th
	Olivier Collarini	Italy	3rd–6th
	Costiesco	France	4th–6th
	Delprat	France	3rd–6th
	Duclos	France	3rd–7th
	Ducreuil	France	3rd
	Marie Joseph Anatole Elie	France	3rd–6th
	Giunio Fedreghini	Italy	3rd–7th
	Fernandès	France	3rd–6th
	Fichot	France	3rd–7th
	Maurice Fleury	France	4th–6th
	Stan François	France	3rd–6th
	Gardiès	France	3rd–6th
	Grad	France	3rd–6th
	Hérrison	France	3rd–6th
	Pierre Georges Louis d'Hugues	France	3rd–6th
	Ivan Ivanovitch	France	3rd–6th
	Henri de Laborde	France	3rd–6th
	Lafontaine	France	3rd–6th
	Lariviére	France	3rd
	de Lastic	France	3rd–6th
	de Laugardière	France	3rd–6th
	Adjutant Lemoine	France	3rd–6th
	Georges Leroy	France	3rd–6th
	Charles Loizillon	France	3rd–6th
	Luquetas	France	3rd–6th
	Robert Marc	France	4th–6th
	Massé	France	3rd–6th
	de Meuse	France	3rd–6th
	Miller	France	3rd–6th
	Moreil	France	3rd–6th
	Achille Morin	France	3rd–6th
	Mosso	France	3rd–6th
	Ivan, Viscount d'Oyley	United States^[6]	3rd–6th
	Peberay	France	3rd–6th
	Mauricio, 4th Duke of Gor	Spain	3rd–6th
	de Pradines	France	3rd–7th
	Preurot	France	3rd–6th
	Prosper	France	3rd–7th
	Georges Redeuil	France	3rd–6th
	Paul Robert	Switzerland	4th–6th
	Charles Robinson	Great Britain	3rd–6th
	Joseph Rodrigues	France	3rd–6th
	Max Rodrigues	France	3rd–6th
	André de Romilly	France	3rd–6th
	Pierre Rosenbaum	France	3rd–7th
	Salvanahac	France	3rd–6th
	de Segonzac	France	3rd–6th
	Joseph Sénat	France	3rd–6th
	Willy Sulzbacher	France^[5]	3rd
	Jean Taillefer	France	4th–6th
	Adolphe Thomegeux	France	3rd–6th
Pierre Thomegeux	France	4th–6th
André Tintant	France	3rd–6th
de la Tournable	France	3rd–6th
de Vars	France	3rd–6th
Véve	France	3rd–6th
Weber	France	3rd–7th

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c "Fencing at the 1900 Summer Olympics: Épée, Individual, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mallon, Bill (11 July 2015). The 1900 Olympic Games Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary (Ebook). McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 271. ISBN 9780786489527.
^ Robinson, Charles Edmund Newton (1911). "Épée-de-Combat" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). pp. 667–669.
^ "André Tintant". Olympedia. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
^ ^a ^b Sulzbacher was named to the Olympic Games by a German fencing club and is therefore listed in some sources, including the IOC's database at Olympic.org, as German. However, he was a French national living in France at the time of the Games; other sources, including Olympedia, more accurate list him as French.
^ ^a ^b Viscount d'Oyley was historically counted as French, but has been discovered to have been an American living in Paris. Modern sources, such as Olympedia, count him as competing for the United States.
^ These two competitors were among the 13 other quarterfinalists that had been defeated in quarterfinals A-E.

[Olympedia-1] "Fencing at the 1900 Summer Olympics: Épée, Individual, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

[Mallon-2] Mallon, Bill (11 July 2015). The 1900 Olympic Games Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary (Ebook). McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 271. ISBN 9780786489527.

[3] Robinson, Charles Edmund Newton (1911). "Épée-de-Combat" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). pp. 667–669.

[4] "André Tintant". Olympedia. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

[Sulzbacher-5] Sulzbacher was named to the Olympic Games by a German fencing club and is therefore listed in some sources, including the IOC's database at Olympic.org, as German. However, he was a French national living in France at the time of the Games; other sources, including Olympedia, more accurate list him as French.

[Oyley-6] Viscount d'Oyley was historically counted as French, but has been discovered to have been an American living in Paris. Modern sources, such as Olympedia, count him as competing for the United States.

[7] These two competitors were among the 13 other quarterfinalists that had been defeated in quarterfinals A-E.

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