The European Cadets and Juniors Fencing Championships, sometimes referred to as the European U17 and U20 Fencing Championships, are an annual fencing competition organized by the European Fencing Confederation (EFC), featuring Europe’s top athletes in the cadet (under 17) and junior (under 20) age categories. The event includes individual and team competitions across all three weapons: foil, épée, and sabre.
History The junior championships were first held in 2009, with the cadets joining the following year. Since 2012, both championships have been hosted jointly in a single venue, typically over a 9–10 day period in late February or early March.
The competition serves as a key developmental milestone for young fencers, often acting as a stepping stone to the World Cadets and Juniors Fencing Championships and senior-level European and World Championships.
Editions YearHost cityCountryCadet eventsJunior eventsTotal eventsTop nation2009Odense -6 individual + 6 team122010Lobyna -6 individual + 6 team12Athens6 individual + 6 team -122011Klagenfurt -6 individual + 6 team122012Poreč6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242013Budapest6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242014Jerusalem6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242015Maribor6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242016Novi Sad6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242017Plovdiv6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242018Sochi6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242019Foggia6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242020Poreč6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242021 colspan=5 2022Novi Sad6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242023Tallinn6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242024Naples6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242025Antalya6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242026Tbilisi6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team242027Rome6 individual + 6 team6 individual + 6 team24
Format Each edition of the championships includes: Individual events in foil, épée, and sabre for both men and women in cadet and junior categories. Team events in the same weapons and age groups. A rotating host city selected by the EFC, with recent editions held in cities such as Novi Sad (Serbia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Antalya (Turkey).
Significance The championships are widely regarded as the most prestigious youth fencing events in Europe. They provide: International experience for emerging athletes. A platform for national federations to assess talent. Qualification points for European rankings and selection to world-level events.
Notable alumni Many successful senior fencers in Europe began their careers at the European Cadet and Junior Championships, including Olympic and World Championship medalists from Italy, France, Hungary, and Russia.
References
External links European Fencing Confederation British Fencing