Three U.S. Women’s Sabre Fencers Lose Opening Bouts at Paris Olympics Amid Investigation

In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris Olympics, all three U.S. women’s sabre fencers suffered losses in their opening bouts on Monday. This comes amidst an investigation into possible match-fixing during the qualifying rounds for the Games.

Tatiana Nazlymov, Magda Skarbonkiewicz, and Elizabeth Tartakovsky all fell short in the individual sabre competition, with Nazlymov notably losing 15-14 to South Korean Choi Sebin. The trio will have another chance to redeem themselves in the team event on Saturday.

The cloud of controversy looming over the U.S. fencing team stems from an arbitration hearing last month, where Nazlymov faced challenges from two fellow American fencers regarding her place on the Paris roster. Despite the emotional strain, USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews emphasized that the team is focused on performing well in Paris.

The investigation also involves suspended referees Jacobo Morales and Brandon Romo, who are accused of conferring during a match that Nazlymov won at a qualifying event earlier this year. Despite the suspension of the referees, USA Fencing maintains that there is no evidence of fencer misconduct.

Despite the setback, U.S. fencers Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs have already secured gold and silver medals in women’s foil, demonstrating the team’s overall success at the Olympics. As the investigation continues, the spotlight remains on the U.S. fencing team’s performance in Paris.