PARIS, France — Two alumni of the Ohio State fencing program made their mark for Team Canada through the first two days of fencing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Eleanor Harvey, who was a member of Ohio State's program from 2014-2017, competed on Sunday in her third Olympic Games.
In her first bout in Paris, Harvey defeated competitors from China, Poland and Italy, before falling to Lauren Scruggs from the United States in the semifinals.
In the bronze medal match, Harvey jumped out to a 9-4 lead through two periods against Italy's Alice Volpi. Volpi was able to pull even at 10-all, but Harvey won the next three points for a 13-10 advantage and closed out a 15-12 victory to clinch the bronze medal.
Fares Arfa, also a member of the Buckeye fencing team from 2014-2017, made his Olympic debut on Saturday, placing eighth in men's sabre which is the highest finish in Canadian men's fencing history.
Arfa started Saturday with an upset of three-time defending Olympic champion Aron Szilagi of Hungary in the Table of 32. In the next round, he topped France's Bolade Apithy but was clipped by Oh Sang-Uk, the eventual gold medalist from South Korea, in the quarterfinals.
Harvey and Canada's fifth-ranked women's fencing team will be in the team competition Thursday. Arfa will be part of the men's fencing team competition on Wednesday.
Buckeye Maximilien Chastanet is an alternate for the French men’s team and could compete next Sunday.
