The men's épée was a fencing event held as part of the fencing at the 1920 Summer Olympics programme in Antwerp, Belgium. It was the fifth appearance of the event. A total of 80 fencers from 13 nations competed in the event, which was held from August 20 to 23, 1920. Each nation was limited to eight fencers, down from 12 in 1908 and 1912. Of the six fencing events, the only one in which Nedo Nadi did not win a gold medal was the one in which he did not compete. Instead, a trio of Frenchmen (Armand Massard, Alexandre Lippmann, and Gustave Buchard) swept the medals. It was Lippmann's second silver medal in the event, he having previously taken second in 1908; he was the second man to win multiple medals in the individual épée.

Background

This was the fifth appearance of the event, which was not held at the first Games in 1896 (with only foil and sabre events held) but has been held at every Summer Olympics since 1900.

Four of the eight finalists from the 1912 Games returned: silver medalist Ivan Joseph Martin Osiier of Denmark (who competed in seven Games from 1908 to 1948), fourth-place finisher Victor Boin of Belgium, seventh-place finisher Léon Tom of Belgium, and eighth-place finisher Martin Holt of Great Britain. The French and Italian teams, both of whom boycotted the 1912 Games over separate rules disputes, returned, including 1908 silver medalist Alexandre Lippmann.

Czechoslovakia and Egypt each made their debut in the event. Belgium, Great Britain, and the United States each appeared for the fourth time, tied for most among nations.

Competition format

The competition was held over four rounds. In each round, each pool held a round-robin, with bouts to 1 touch. Double-touches counted as touches against both fencers. Rather than hold separate barrages to separate fencers tied in the advancement spot (as had been done in 1908), the head-to-head results of bouts already fenced were used (as in 1912). The size of the pools was increased; where previously the maximum size of a pool was 8, now the final and semifinals consisted of 12 fencers each with the quarterfinals and first round pools also larger.

First round: 9 pools of between 8 and 10 fencers each. The 5 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the quarterfinals. Second round: 4 pools of 11 or 12 fencers each. The 6 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the semifinals. Semifinals: 2 pools of 12 fencers each. The 6 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the final. Final: 1 pool of 12 fencers.

Schedule

Date Time Round Friday, 20 August 1920 9:00 Round 1 Sunday, 22 August 1920 9:00 QuarterfinalsSemifinals Monday, 23 August 1920 9:30 Final

Results

First round

Pool A

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Félix Goblet 8 1 2 João Sassetti 6 3 3 Roger Ducret 5 4 Gustaf Lindblom 5 4 5 S. Antonidas 4 5 6 John Blake 4 5 7 Willem Hubert 3 6 Ivan Osiier 3 6 Paolo Thaon 3 6 10 Jan Černohorský 1 8

Pool B

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Jan Van der Wiel 5 2 2 António de Menezes 4 3 Evangelos Skotidas 4 3 Maurice de Wée 4 3 5 Roland Willoughby 3 4 6 Kay Schrøder 3 4 7 Frédéric Fitting 2 5 Bertil Uggla 2 5

Pool C

Olivier advanced to the final after Otto Baerentzen (5th in Pool I) withdrew.

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Fernando Correia 5 2 Georges Trombert 5 2 3 Victor Boin 4 2 Einar Levison 4 2 5 Wouter Brouwer 3 3 6 Abelardo Olivier 3 3 7 John Dimond 2 4 Hans Törnblom 2 4

Pool D

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Frédéric Dubourdieu 7 2 2 Poul Rasmussen 6 3 3 Edouard Fitting 5 4 4 Ernest Gevers 4 5 5 Carl Gripenstedt 4 5 6 Frederico Paredes 4 5 7 Louis Delaunoij 3 6 Raymond Dutcher 3 6 Robert Montgomerie 3 6 10 Josef Javůrek 2 7

Pool E

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Nils Hellsten 6 2 2 Ruimondo Mayer 5 3 3 Joseph de Craecker 4 4 Otakar Švorčík 4 4 Alexandre Lippmann 4 4 6 Eugène Empeyta 3 5 7 Martin Holt 3 5 8 Georg Hegner 1 7 Vasilios Zarkadis 1 7

Pool F

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Gustave Buchard 6 1 2 Tullio Bozza 5 2 3 Henri Wijnoldij-Daniëls 4 3 4 Aage Berntsen 3 4 William Russell 3 4 6 Knut Enell 2 5 7 Léon Tom 2 5 8 George Burt 1 6

Pool G

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Henry Breckinridge 6 2 Charles Delporte 6 2 Louis Moureau 6 2 4 Jorge de Paiva 5 3 5 Josef Jungmann 4 4 6 Aldo Boni 3 5 7 Salomon Zeldenrust 3 5 8 Charles Notley 2 6 9 Einar Råberg 0 8

Pool H

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Fernand de Montigny 7 1 2 Georges Casanova 6 2 Adrianus de Jong 6 2 4 Henrique da Silveira 5 3 5 Giovanni Canova 3 5 6 David Warholm 3 5 7 Ronald Bruce Campbell 3 5 8 Henri Jacquet 2 6 9 Viliam Tvrský 1 7

Pool I

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Armand Massard 6 2 2 Ahmed Hassanein 5 3 Dino Urbani 5 3 4 Robin Dalglish 4 4 5 Otto Baerentzen 4 4 , withdrew 6 Louis de Tribolet 3 5 7 Manuel Queiróz 3 5 8 Félix Vigeveno 2 6 9 Leonard Schoonmaker 0 8

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal A

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Georges Trombert 8 2 2 Gustaf Lindblom 7 3 Jorge de Paiva 7 3 4 Adrianus de Jong 6 4 Louis Moureau 6 4 6 Charles Delporte 5 5 7 Tullio Bozza 5 5 Joseph de Craecker 5 5 9 Poul Rasmussen 4 6 10 Roland Willoughby 2 8 11 Otakar Švorčík 1 9

Quarterfinal B

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Abelardo Olivier 7 3 2 Fernando Correia 6 4 Frédéric Dubourdieu 6 4 Armand Massard 6 4 5 Henry Breckenridge 5 3 Félix Goblet 5 3 7 Ahmed Hassanein 4 6 Ruimondo Mayer 4 6 Henri Wijnoldij-Daniëls 4 6 10 Carl Gripenstedt 3 7 11 Josef Jungmann 1 9

Quarterfinal C

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 João Sassetti 8 3 2 António de Menezes 7 4 3 Gustave Buchard 6 5 Ernest Gevers 6 5 William Russell 6 5 Maurice de Wée 6 5 7 Giovanni Canova 5 6 Roger Ducret 5 6 Evangelos Skotidas 5 6 10 Aage Berntsen 4 7 11 S. Antonidas 3 8 12 Jan Van der Wiel 1 10

Quarterfinal D

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Nils Hellsten 8 2 2 Alexandre Lippmann 7 3 3 Georges Casanova 6 4 Einar Levison 6 4 Fernand de Montigny 6 4 Dino Urbani 6 4 7 Henrique da Silveira 4 6 8 Victor Boin 3 7 Wouter Brouwer 3 7 Edouard Fitting 3 7 11 Robin Dalglish 1 9

Semifinals

Semifinal A

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Georges Casanova 9 2 2 António de Menezes 7 4 3 Gustaf Lindblom 6 5 Armand Massard 6 5 5 Charles Delporte 4 7 Alexandre Lippmann 4 7 7 Frédéric Dubourdieu 4 7 Fernand de Montigny 4 7 Dino Urbani 4 7 10 Fernando Correia 2 9 William Russell 2 9 12 Einar Levison 0 11

Semifinal B

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Notes 1 Ernest Gevers 7 4 2 Gustave Buchard 6 5 Félix Goblet 6 5 Louis Moureau 6 5 Abelardo Olivier 6 5 Jorge de Paiva 6 5 7 Georges Trombert 6 5 8 Nils Hellsten 4 7 Adrianus de Jong 4 7 10 Henry Breckenridge 3 8 Maurice de Wée 3 8 12 João Sassetti 2 9

Final

Rank Fencer Nation Wins Losses Armand Massard 9 2 Alexandre Lippmann 7 4 Gustave Buchard 6 5 4 Ernest Gevers 6 5 5 Georges Casanova 5 6 6 António de Menezes 5 6 Louis Moureau 5 6 Abelardo Olivier 5 6 9 Gustaf Lindblom 4 7 10 Charles Delporte 3 8 Félix Goblet 3 8 12 Jorge de Paiva 2 9

Results summary

Rank Fencer Nation Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Total Rank Rank Rank Armand Massard 6 2 1st 6 4 2nd 6 5 3rd 9 2 27 13 Alexandre Lippmann 4 4 3rd 7 3 2nd 4 7 5th 7 4 22 18 Gustave Buchard 6 1 1st 6 5 3rd 6 5 2nd 6 5 24 16 4 Ernest Gevers 4 5 4th 6 5 3rd 7 4 1st 6 5 23 19 5 Georges Casanova 6 2 2nd 6 4 3rd 9 2 1st 5 6 26 14 6 António de Menezes 4 3 2nd 7 4 2nd 7 4 2nd 5 6 23 17 Louis Moureau 6 2 1st 6 4 4th 6 5 2nd 5 6 23 17 Abelardo Olivier 3 3 6th 7 3 1st 6 5 2nd 5 6 21 17 9 Gustaf Lindblom 5 4 3rd 7 3 2nd 6 5 3rd 4 7 22 19 10 Charles Delporte 6 2 1st 5 5 6th 4 7 5th 3 8 18 22 Félix Goblet d'Alviella 8 1 1st 5 3 5th 6 5 2nd 3 8 22 17 12 Jorge de Paiva 5 3 4th 7 3 2nd 6 5 2nd 2 9 20 20 13 Frédéric Dubourdieu 7 2 1st 6 4 2nd 4 7 7th colspan=2 rowspan=12 17 13 Fernand de Montigny 7 1 1st 6 4 3rd 4 7 7th 17 12 Georges Trombert 5 2 1st 8 2 1st 6 5 7th 19 9 Dino Urbani 5 3 2nd 6 4 3rd 4 7 7th 15 14 17 Nils Hellsten 6 2 1st 8 2 1st 4 7 8th 18 11 Adrianus de Jong 6 2 2nd 6 4 4th 4 7 8th 16 13 19 Henry Skillman Breckinridge 6 2 1st 5 3 5th 3 8 10th 14 13 Fernando Correia 5 2 1st 6 4 2nd 2 9 10th 13 15 Maurice de Wée 4 3 2nd 6 5 3rd 3 8 10th 13 16 William Russell 3 4 4th 6 5 3rd 2 9 10th 11 18 23 Ejnar Levison 4 2 3rd 6 4 3rd 0 11 12th 10 17 João Sassetti 6 3 2nd 8 3 1st 2 9 12th 16 15 25 Tullio Bozza 5 2 2nd 5 5 7th colspan=5 rowspan=22 10 7 Giovanni Canova 3 5 5th 5 6 7th 8 11 Joseph De Craecker 4 4 3rd 5 5 7th 9 9 Roger Ducret 5 4 3rd 5 6 7th 10 10 Ahmed Hassanein 5 3 2nd 4 6 7th 9 9 Ruimondo Mayer 5 3 2nd 4 6 7th 9 9 Henrique da Silveira 5 3 4th 4 6 7th 9 9 Evangelos Skotidas 4 3 2nd 5 6 7th 9 9 Henri Wijnoldy-Daniëls 4 3 3rd 4 6 7th 8 9 34 Victor Boin 4 2 3rd 3 7 8th 7 9 Wouter Brouwer 3 3 5th 3 7 8th 6 10 Édouard Fitting 5 4 3rd 3 7 8th 8 11 37 Poul Rasmussen 6 3 2nd 4 6 9th 10 9 38 Aage Berntsen 3 4 4th 4 7 10th 7 11 Carl Gripenstedt 4 5 5th 3 7 10th 7 12 Roland Willoughby 3 4 5th 2 8 10th 5 12 41 S. Antonidas 4 5 5th 3 8 11th 7 13 Robin Dalglish 4 4 4th 1 9 11th 5 13 Josef Jungmann 4 4 5th 1 9 11th 5 13 Otakar Švorčík 4 4 4th 1 9 11th 5 13 45 Jan Van der Wiel 5 2 1st 1 10 12th 6 12 46 Otto Bærentzen 4 4 5th 4 4 47 J. P. Blake 4 5 6th colspan=8 rowspan=34 4 5 Aldo Boni 3 5 6th 3 5 Eugène Empeyta 3 5 6th 3 5 Knut Enell 2 5 6th 2 5 Frederico Paredes 4 5 6th 4 5 Kay Schrøder 3 4 6th 3 4 Louis de Tribolet 3 5 6th 3 5 David Warholm 3 5 6th 3 5 55 Ronald Bruce Campbell 3 5 7th 3 5 Louis Delaunoij 3 6 7th 3 6 John Dimond 2 4 7th 2 4 Raymond Dutcher 3 6 7th 3 6 Frédéric Fitting 2 5 7th 2 5 Martin Holt 3 5 7th 3 5 Willem Hubert 3 6 7th 3 6 Robert Montgomerie 3 6 7th 3 6 Ivan Osiier 3 6 7th 3 6 Manuel Queiróz 3 5 7th 3 5 Paolo Thaon 3 6 7th 3 6 Léon Tom 2 5 7th 2 5 Hans Törnblom 2 4 7th 2 4 Bertil Uggla 2 5 7th 2 5 Salomon Zeldenrust 3 5 7th 3 5 70 George Burt 1 6 8th 1 6 Georg Hegner 1 7 8th 1 7 Henri Jacquet 2 6 8th 2 6 Charles Notley 2 6 8th 2 6 Félix Vigeveno 2 6 8th 2 6 Vasilios Zarkadis 1 7 8th 1 7 76 Einar Råberg 0 8 9th 0 8 Leon Schoonmaker 0 8 9th 0 8 Viliam Tvrský 1 7 9th 1 7 79 Jan Černohorský 1 8 10th 1 8 Josef Javůrek 2 7 10th 2 7

References