Paris Olympics: Triple champion Szilagyi in ‘shock’ after defeat

Hungary’s Aron Szilagyi, left, and Canada’s Fares Arfa compete in the men’s individual Sabre round of 32 competition during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the Grand Palais, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Hungarian fencing great Aron Szilagyi’s hopes of a record-extending fourth men’s Olympic sabre individual crown were dashed in a shock 15-8 loss in the round of 32 to Canada’s Fares Arfa on Saturday.

It was 34-year-old Szilagyi’s first defeat at an Olympics since Beijing in 2008 and was witnessed by US First Lady Jill Biden.

“I’m in a bit of shock right now, so I’m not even disappointed or angry at myself yet,” he said.

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“It happened so fast, and I’ve never thought that my individual competition here in Paris would be so short.

“It’s really a shock. It’s like my opponent read me. I was an open book to him.

“In every touch, what he wanted, it happened. All his parries worked, all his attacks landed.”

Szilagyi entered the arena at the magnificent Grand Palais in central Paris, which hosted the 2010 fencing world championships, with the swagger of a champion.

However, he was on the back foot from the start of his duel with his opponent, ranked a lowly 35th in the world.

The Hungarian trailed 6-0 before battling back to 6-4 but the ruthlessness and killer touch he had at previous Games had deserted him.

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Not even a change of sabre midway through the contest could rouse him, his 29-year-old Canadian opponent apparently as surprised as the spectators at how limply the champion performed.

“It was like as if he’d been the three-time Olympic champion, and I was some kind of first-time Olympian,” said Szilagyi.

“Of course, we will watch my match again to understand what really happened, but after some time.

“Then I’ll think of the team event.”

Arfa later progressed to the quarter-finals with victory against France’s 38-year-old Bolade Apithy.

Szilagyi was not the sole high-profile loser as America’s 2023 world champion Eli Dershwitz exited 15-10 at the last-32 stage to another Hungarian, Csanad Gemesi.