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FIVE MEDALS FOR GBR PARA SQUAD AT PISA WORLD CUP

GBR brought home five medals from the Para Fencing World Cup in Pisa, Italy, which took place between the 19th and 22nd February 2026.

Day 1:

GBR started off strong on the first day of the competition in Pisa, known as ‘The Learning Tower’ Para Fencing World Cup. Seeded second, Dimitri Coutya went straight through to the table of 16 in the Men’s Foil B event. His first opponent was Timur Khamatshin (AIN), whom he defeated 15-8. He went on to defeat Takaaki Sasajima (JPN) in a decisive 15-2 victory, followed by Jovane Guissone (BRA) 15-9. Now in the final, Dimitri faced off against Michele Massa (ITA) on home turf. After a close fight, Dimitri reigned victorious with a 15-13 score to take the gold medal.

Four para fencers in front of podium banners, holding trophies. L-R: ITA, GBR, HKG, BRA)
Dimitri claimed the title on the opening day in Pisa (Photo: TRIFILETTI Andrea / Bizzi Team).

Meanwhile, Gemma Collis also earned a bye in the Women’s Epee A event, being seeded second. She went straight through to the table of 16 to face Ka Man Lam (HKG), whom she defeated 15-6.  She then defeated Cassiopee Bourgine (FRA) 15-6 to reach the semi-finals. Having secured a medal, Gemma faced Linor Kelman (ISR), but was defeated 15-12 in a close battle to take home the bronze medal.

Four para fencers in front of podium banners, holding trophies. L-R: ISR, KOR, GBR, AIN
Gemma placed third on day one (Photo: TRIFILETTI Andrea / Bizzi Team).

Full results:

  • Men’s Foil A: 11th: Oliver Lam-Watson, 38th: James Middlehurst, 52nd: James Peebles.
  • Women’s Epee B: 10th: Emily Holder, 21st: Samantha Kagoya-Muganwa, 22nd: Justine Moore
  • Men’s Foil B: 1st: Dimitri Coutya
  • Women’s Epee A: 3rd: Gemma Collis, 25th: Susanne Seddon-Cowell

Day 2:

On the second day of the World Cup, Oliver Lam-Watson paved his way to the podium in the Men’s Sabre A event. After winning three of his five poule fights, he defeated Michal Siatkowski (POL) 15-11 in the table of 32. He then went on to face Shintaro Kano (JPN) – seeded third – in a close battle, emerging with a 15-13 win. In the last eight, he defeated Eduard Kudenko (UKR) with a decisive 15-7 score, securing a medal. His podium journey was cut short, however, by Andrii Demchuk (UKR), being defeated 15-8 to earn the bronze medal.

Four para fencers in front of podium banners, holding trophies. L-R: ITA, UKR, GBR, GER)
Oliver Lam-Watson picked up bronze on day two (Photo: TRIFILETTI Andrea / Bizzi Team).

Full results:

  • Men’s Sabre A: 3rd: Oliver Lam-Watson, 10th: Piers Gilliver, 19th: James Burke, 27th: James Middlehurst, 35th: Oliver Faulkner, 36th: James Peebles
  • Women’s Foil B: 8th: Justine Moore, 11th: Emily Holder
  • Women’s Foil A: 9th: Gemma Collis
  • Men’s Sabre B: 7th: Dimitri Coutya

Day 3:

Day three of the World Cup saw Piers Gilliver land the silver medal spot in the Men’s Epee A event. Seeded third, he went straight through to the table of 32. There, with skill and confidence, he eliminated Gabriele Maria Albini (ITA) with a 15-0 score. He then defeated Luca Platania Parisi (ITA) 15-6 in the last 16, followed by Hayder Al-Ogaili (IRQ) 15-11 in the last 8. Having earned a place on the podium, Piers then defeated Iraq’s Zainulabdeen Al-Madhkhoori 15-12 to go through to the final. His podium journey was stopped by Maxim Shaburov (AIN) – the final score 15-12 – and Piers took home the silver medal.

Four para fencers in front of podium banners, holding trophies. L-R: GBR, AIN, IRQ, AIN)
Piers earned the silver medal on day three (Photo: TRIFILETTI Andrea / Bizzi Team).

In the Men’s Epee B event, Dimitri Coutya likewise earned a spot on the podium with a bronze medal. Seeded fourth, Dimitri went through to the table of 16 with a bye, where he defeated Andrei Pranevich (AIN) 15-8. He then bested Jovane Guissone (BRA) 15-4 in the last eight, going through to the semi-final. Despite a strong fight, Dimitri was narrowly defeated 15-14 by Amelio Castro (AIN), earning him the bronze medal.

Four para fencers in front of podium banners, holding trophies. L-R: AIN, THA, UKR, GBR)
Bronze for Dimitri on day three (Photo: TRIFILETTI Andrea / Bizzi Team).

Full results:

  • Men’s Epee A: 2nd: Piers Gilliver, 5th: Oliver Lam-Watson, 38th: James Burke, 47th: James Peebles, 48th: Oliver Faulkner, 50th: James Middlehurst
  • Women’s Sabre B: 15th: Justine Moore, 17th: Samantha Kagoya-Muganwa, 21st: Emily Holder
  • Men’s Epee B: 3rd: Dimitri Coutya, 26th: Matt Clement
  • Women’s Sabre A: 9th: Gemma Collis, 21st: Susanne Seddon-Cowell

Day 4:

Full results:

  • Men’s Foil Team: 6th (Dimitri Coutya, Oliver Lam-Watson, James Peebles)
  • Women’s Sabre Team: 8th (Emily Holder, Samantha Kagoya-Muganwa, Justine Moore, Susanne Seddon-Cowell)
  • Women’s Epee Team: 8th (Emily Holder, Samantha Kagoya-Muganwa, Justine Moore, Susanne Seddon-Cowell)

The event also saw many newly-classified athletes join the GBR para squad, with some competing at their first World Cup. The competition marks a significant experience in their para fencing career, and we wish them all the best at future events.

Referees Theo Ayanwale and Christopher Farren also represented GBR at the event.

Illustration of a medal

This post is related to the BF 2030 Strategy goal to Deliver GBR success. You can read more about the Strategy here.

See the full results for the 2026 Pisa Para Fencing World Cup here.

You can watch the livestreams here.

Could you be tomorrow’s Paralympic fencing champion? Contact BF at gbr_support@britishfencing.com to learn more.