Zuzanna Cieślar secured a bronze medal in the women’s individual sabre event at the European Fencing Championships held in Basel. The ZKS Sosnowiec athlete had a stellar run, advancing to the semifinals after defeating Germany’s Larissa Eifler 15-13, Belgium’s Jolien Corteyen 15-13, and France’s Sarah Noutchy 15-14. Cieślar’s performance demonstrated her resilience and skill as she overcame challenging opponents to reach the penultimate round.
Heartbreaking Semifinal Defeat
In the semifinals, Cieślar faced Spain’s Celia Perez Cuenca. Despite leading 14-13 and being just one touch away from victory, Cieślar was narrowly defeated 14-15. The 23-year-old, ranked 66th in the world, showed tremendous determination, rallying from a deficit but ultimately falling short against the 42nd-ranked Spaniard.
Poland’s Continued Success in Fencing
This bronze adds to Poland’s rich history in the European Fencing Championships, bringing their total to 87 medals. Cieślar’s achievement marks her second European Championship bronze, following her previous podium finish in 2022 in Antalya. The Polish team’s success in Basel also includes Julia Walczyk-Klimaszyk’s bronze in the foil event, highlighting Poland’s strong presence in European fencing. Team events are set to begin, with the epee and foil teams aiming for further success.
