Men's épée
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
French épéeists at the 1908 Games, including individual medalists Alibert, Lippman, and Olivier (seated, from left)
VenueFranco-British Exhibition fencing grounds
DatesJuly 17–24
Competitors85 from 13 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Gaston Alibert
 France
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Alexandre Lippmann
 France
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Eugene Olivier
 France

The men's épée was one of four fencing events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held from 17 to 24 July 1908 at the Franco-British Exhibition fencing grounds.[1] There were 85 competitors from 13 nations.[1] Each nation could enter up to 12 fencers.[2] The medals were swept by the French fencers, who also took the gold medal in the team épée event. Gaston Alibert was the gold medalist, with Alexandre Lippmann taking silver and Eugene Olivier bronze. Officially, it was the second consecutive medal sweep in the event, though two of the three "Cuban" fencers who medaled in 1904 were actually American.

Background

This was the third 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.[1]

None of the five fencers from 1904 returned.

Bohemia, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, and Sweden each made their debut in the event. Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy each appeared for the second time, matching Cuba and the United States (both absent for the first time) 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. Barrages were used as necessary to determine the advancing fencers.

  • First round: 13 pools of between 5 and 8 fencers each. The 3 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the second round.
  • Second round: 8 pools of 5 fencers each (except one had only 4). The 2 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the semifinals.
  • Semifinals: 2 pools of 8 fencers each. The 4 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the final.
  • Final: 1 pool of 8 fencers.

Schedule

Date Time Round
Friday, 17 July 1908Round 1 pools A–H
Saturday, 18 July 190810:30
14:30		Round 1 pools I–L
Round 1 pool M
Monday, 20 July 190810:30
17:15		Quarterfinals 1–4
Quarterfinals 5–8
Thursday, 23 July 190810:30
16:00		Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2
Friday, 24 July 190814:45Final

Results

First round

The first round was conducted in round-robin format, to one touch. Pool sizes ranged from 5 to 8 fencers. Double-touches counted against both fencers. The three contestants who had been struck the fewest times advanced.

Pool A

Fildes and von Rosen had a double-touch, as did Stöhr and Fildes.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Lauritz Østrup Denmark51Q
2Bernard Gravier France42Q
Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek Bohemia42Q
4Eric Carlberg Sweden33
5Pontus von Rosen Sweden24[3]
6Georg Stöhr Germany15
7Luke Fildes Great Britain06

Pool B

Double-touches were between Gates and van Schreven, Jack and Gates, and Collignon and van Schreven.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Bohemia51Q
2Charles Collignon France42Q
3Pietro Speciale Italy33Q
4Herbert Sander Denmark24
Johan van Schreven Netherlands24
6Walter Gates South Africa15
Fritz Jack Germany15

Pool C

Blake and Dwinger had the only double-touch in this six-man pool.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Joseph Marais France50Q
2Ejnar Levison Denmark32Q
Gaston Renard Belgium32Q
4Johannes Adam Germany14
John Blake Great Britain14
Max Dwinger Netherlands14

Pool D

The fourth pool had 8 fencers. Berger was clearly the best of the crowd, going untouched in his seven bouts. When five different fencers tied for second place at 4 touches against apiece, a playoff round-robin was held. The first playoff eliminated only one fencer, with the remaining four again tying and forcing a second playoff. That round resulted in Holt and Tvrzský tying at 1 touch apiece, eliminating the other two fencers.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Henri-Georges Berger France70Q
2Otto Becker Denmark34B
Hans Bergsland Norway34B
Dino Diana Italy34B
Martin Holt Great Britain34B
Vilém Tvrzský Bohemia34B
7André Sarens Belgium16
George van Rossem Netherlands16
Barrage

Bergsland was hit three times, finishing sixth overall in the pool while the other four fencers in the playoff each received two hits to advance to a second playoff.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Otto Becker Denmark22B
Dino Diana Italy22B
Martin Holt Great Britain22B
Vilém Tvrzský Bohemia22B
6Hans Bergsland Norway13
Second barrage

Holt and Tvrzský tied for an overall second-place finish in the pool with one touch against apiece (Tvrzský won the bout between the two, but was himself hit by Diana). Becker and Diana placed fourth.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Martin Holt Great Britain21Q
Vilém Tvrzský Bohemia21Q
4Otto Becker Denmark12
Dino Diana Italy12

Pool E

The fifth pool also included 8 fencers, but did not require a playoff. The only touch against Alibert came in a double-touch with van Löben Sels.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Gaston Alibert France61Q
2Fernand de Montigny Belgium43Q
Ivan Osiier Denmark43Q
4Percival Davson Great Britain34
Sante Ceccherini Italy34
6Otakar Lada Bohemia25
7Robert Krünert Germany16
Maurits Jacob van Löben Sels Netherlands16

Pool F

The sixth competition pool was smaller, with only 6 fencers.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1François Rom Belgium41Q
2Giulio Cagiati Italy32Q
Sydney Martineau Great Britain32Q
4Henry Peyron Sweden23
5Albert Naumann Germany14
Bedřich Schejbal Bohemia14

Pool G

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Leaf Daniell Great Britain51Q
2Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Bohemia42Q
3Fernand Bosmans Belgium33B
Frédéric Dubourdieu France33B
Emil Schön Germany33B
6Dezső Földes Hungary15
7Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh Netherlands06
Barrage

The Official Report says only that Bosmans defeated Dubourdieu and Schön in the playoff, without giving further detail.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
3Fernand Bosmans Belgium20Q
4Frédéric Dubourdieu France01
Emil Schön Germany01

Pool H

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Alfred Labouchere Netherlands51Q
2Paul Anspach Belgium42Q
3Ralph Chalmers Great Britain33B
Jacques Rodocanachi France33B
5Jacob Erkrath de Bary Germany24
Alessandro Pirzio Biroli Italy24
7František Dušek[4] Bohemia06
Barrage

The single bout between Rodocanachi and Chalmers to break the tie for third resulted in a win for the Frenchman.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
3Jacques Rodocanachi France10Q
4Ralph Chalmers Great Britain01

Pool I

The ninth pool was the first of the second day of competition, 18 July.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Robert Montgomerie Great Britain51Q
2Gustaf Lindblom Sweden33B
Giuseppe Mangiarotti Italy33B
Robert Quennessen France33B
5Frantz Jørgensen Denmark24
6Percy Nobbs Canada06
August Petri Germany06
Barrage

Mangiarotti was defeated in the three-way playoff for the two remaining advancement spots.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Gustaf Lindblom Sweden10Q
Robert Quennessen France10Q
4Giuseppe Mangiarotti Italy02

Pool J

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Edgar Amphlett Great Britain41Q
Jetze Doorman Netherlands41Q
3Eugène Olivier France32Q
4Zulavszky Béla Hungary14
Ernst Moldenhauer Germany14
Pietro Sarzano Italy14

Pool K

The eleventh pool was the smallest, with only 5 fencers.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Marcelo Bertinetti Italy31Q
2Cecil Haig Great Britain22B
Pierre le Blon Belgium22B
Simon Okker Netherlands22B
5Georg Branting Sweden04
Barrage

In the playoff for the second and third spots, le Blon and Haig advanced. Okker was eliminated.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Pierre le Blon Belgium10Q
Cecil Haig Great Britain10Q
4Simon Okker Netherlands02

Pool L

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Alexandre Lippmann France41Q
François Stuyck Belgium41Q
3Riccardo Nowak Italy32Q
4Birger Cnattingius Sweden14
Edgar Seligman Great Britain14
6Gösta Olson Sweden05

Pool M

The final pool also had only 5 fencers.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Jean Stern France31Q
2Henri Davids Great Britain22Q
Marcel van Langenhove Belgium22Q
4Julius Lichtenfels Germany13
Tóth Péter Hungary13

Quarterfinals

Seven of the eight second round pools had 5 fencers, with the eighth having only 4. 2 advanced to the semifinals from each pool.

Quarterfinal 1

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Pierre le Blon Belgium31Q
2Jetze Doorman Netherlands22B
Jean Stern France22B
4François Stuyck Belgium13
5Ejnar Levison Denmark04
Barrage

Doorman again lost to Stern in the playoff bout.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Jean Stern France10Q
3Jetze Doorman Netherlands01

Quarterfinal 2

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Lauritz Østrup Denmark31Q
2Ivan Osiier Denmark22B
Gaston Renard Belgium22B
Jacques Rodocanachi France22B
5Edgar Amphlett Great Britain13
Barrage

Renard won the playoff pool, with no further details given in the Official Report.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Gaston Renard Belgium20Q
3Ivan Osiier Denmark01
Jacques Rodocanachi France01

Quarterfinal 3

Alibert continued on his perfect streak, winning four more bouts untouched.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Gaston Alibert France40Q
2Henri-Georges Berger France22B
Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Bohemia22B
4Pietro Speciale Italy13
5Henri Davids Great Britain04
Barrage

Berger won the playoff, defeating von Lobsdorf again.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Henri-Georges Berger France10Q
3Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Bohemia01

Quarterfinal 4

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Martin Holt Great Britain31Q
2Bernard Gravier France22B
Robert Montgomerie Great Britain22B
Vilém Tvrzský Bohemia22B
5Joseph Marais France13
Barrage

Montgomerie won against Gravier and Tvrzský in the three-way playoff for the second semifinal spot.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Robert Montgomerie Great Britain20Q
3Bernard Gravier France01
Vilém Tvrzský Bohemia01

Quarterfinal 5

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Gustaf Lindblom Sweden31Q
Alexandre Lippmann France31Q
3Leaf Daniell Great Britain22
4Marcelo Bertinetti Italy13
5Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Bohemia04

Quarterfinal 6

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1François Rom Belgium31Q
2Fernand Bosmans Belgium22Q
3Charles Colignon France13
Marcel van Langenhove Belgium13
Riccardo Nowak Italy13

Quarterfinal 7

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Paul Anspach Belgium31Q
2Alfred Labouchere Netherlands22B
Sydney Martineau Great Britain22B
Fernand de Montigny Belgium22B
5Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek Bohemia13
Barrage

Labouchere won the three-way playoff for second place and a semifinal spot.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
2Alfred Labouchere Netherlands20Q
3Sydney Martineau Great Britain01
Fernand de Montigny Belgium01

Quarterfinal 8

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Cecil Haig Great Britain21Q
Eugène Olivier France21Q
3Giulio Cagiati Italy12
Robert Quennessen France12

Semifinals

There were two semifinals, each of 8 fencers. The top 4 in each advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

Alibert was hit twice, both in double-touches.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Gaston Alibert France52Q
2Cecil Haig Great Britain43Q
Alfred Labouchere Netherlands43Q
4Robert Montgomerie Great Britain34Q
5Henri-Georges Berger France25
Gaston Renard Belgium25
François Rom Belgium25
8Fernand Bosmans Belgium07

Semifinal 2

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1Paul Anspach Belgium52Q
2Martin Holt Great Britain43Q
3Alexandre Lippmann France34B
Eugène Olivier France34B
Jean Stern France34B
6Gustaf Lindblom Sweden25
Lauritz Østrup Denmark25
8Pierre le Blon Belgium16
Barrage
RankFencerNationWLNotes
3Alexandre Lippmann France20Q
4Eugène Olivier France11Q
5Jean Stern France02

Final

The final resulted in Alibert taking the championship after again hitting all opponents, though he suffered another pair of double-touches. There was a three-way tie for second place between two Frenchman and Montgomerie of the British team.

RankFencerNationWLNotes
1st place, gold medalist(s)Gaston Alibert France52
2Alexandre Lippmann France43B
Robert Montgomerie Great Britain43B
Eugène Olivier France43B
5Paul Anspach Belgium25
Cecil Haig Great Britain25
Alfred Labouchere Netherlands25
8Martin Holt Great Britain16
Barrage

The playoff pool for second and third resulted in wins for the two French fencers, completing France's medal sweep in the event.

RankFencerNationWL
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Alexandre Lippmann France20
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Eugène Olivier France11
4Robert Montgomerie Great Britain02

Results summary

RankFencerNationRound 1QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTotal
WLRank WLRank WLRank WL WL
1st place, gold medalist(s)Gaston Alibert France611st401st521st52205
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Alexandre Lippmann France411st311st3+24+03rd4+23+0189
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Eugène Olivier France323rd211st3+14+14th4+13+11412
4Robert Montgomerie Great Britain511st2+22+02nd344th4+03+21611
5Paul Anspach Belgium422nd311st521st251410
Cecil Haig Great Britain2+12+02nd211st432nd251111
Alfred Labouchere Netherlands511st2+22+02nd432nd251511
8Martin Holt Great Britain3+2+24+2+12nd311st432nd161517
9Henri-Georges Berger France701st2+12+02nd255thDid not advance127
Gaston Renard Belgium322nd2+22+02nd255th99
François Rom Belgium411st311st255th97
Jean Stern France311st2+12+02nd3+04+25th99
13Gustaf Lindblom Sweden3+13+02nd311st256th99
Lauritz Østrup Denmark511st311st256th107
15Pierre le Blon Belgium2+12+02nd311st168th79
Fernand Bosmans Belgium3+23+03rd222nd078th712
17Giulio Cagiati Italy322nd123rdDid not advance44
Charles Colignon France422nd133rd55
Leaf Daniell Great Britain511st223rd73
Jetze Doorman Netherlands411st2+02+13rd64
Bernard Gravier France422nd2+02+13rd65
Marcel van Langenhove Belgium222nd133rd35
Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Bohemia422nd2+02+13rd65
Sydney Martineau Great Britain322nd2+02+13rd55
Fernand de Montigny Belgium432nd2+02+13rd66
Riccardo Nowak Italy323rd133rd45
Ivan Osiier Denmark432nd2+02+13rd66
Robert Quennessen France3+13+02nd123rd55
Jacques Rodocanachi France3+13+03rd2+02+13rd66
Vilém Tvrzský Bohemia3+2+24+2+12nd2+02+13rd910
31Marcelo Bertinetti Italy311st134th44
Pietro Speciale Italy333rd134th46
François Stuyck Belgium411st134th54
34Edgar Amphlett Great Britain411st135th54
Henri Davids Great Britain222nd045th26
Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Bohemia511st045th55
Ejnar Levison Denmark322nd045th36
Joseph Marais France501st135th63
Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek Bohemia422nd135th55
40Johannes Adam Germany144thDid not advance14
Otto Becker Denmark3+2+14+2+24th68
Zulavszky Béla Hungary144th14
John Blake Great Britain144th14
Eric Carlberg Sweden334th33
Sante Ceccherini Italy344th34
Ralph Chalmers Great Britain3+03+14th34
Birger Cnattingius Sweden144th14
Percival Davson Great Britain344th34
Dino Diana Italy3+2+14+2+24th68
Frédéric Dubourdieu France3+03+14th34
Max Dwinger Netherlands144th14
Julius Lichtenfels Germany134th13
Giuseppe Mangiarotti Italy3+03+24th35
Ernst Moldenhauer Germany144th14
Simon Okker Netherlands2+02+24th24
Henry Peyron Sweden234th23
Herbert Sander Denmark244th24
Pietro Sarzano Italy144th14
Emil Schön Germany3+03+14th34
Johan van Schreven Netherlands244th24
Edgar Seligman Great Britain144th14
Tóth Péter Hungary134th13
63Jacob Erkrath de Bary Germany245th24
Georg Branting Sweden045th04
Frantz Jørgensen Denmark245th24
Albert Naumann Germany145th14
Alessandro Pirzio Biroli Italy245th24
Pontus von Rosen Sweden24[3]5th24
Bedrich Schejbal Bohemia145th14
70Hans Bergsland Norway3+14+36th47
Dezső Földes Hungary156th15
Walter Gates South Africa156th15
Fritz Jack Germany156th15
Otakar Lada Bohemia256th25
Percy Nobbs Canada066th06
Gösta Olson Sweden056th05
August Petri Germany066th06
Georg Stöhr Germany156th15
79Luke Fildes Great Britain067th06
Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh Netherlands067th06
Robert Krünert Germany167th16
Maurits Jacob van Löben Sels Netherlands167th16
George van Rossem Netherlands167th16
André Sarens Belgium167th16
František Dušek[4] Bohemia067th06

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Épée, Individual, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Official Report, p.34.
  3. 1 2 The Official Report lists von Rosen's hits against as "3", but shows him being hit by Carlberg, Gravier, and Østrup as well as scoring a double-touch against Fildes for a total of 4 hits against.
  4. 1 2 "comdat.w.interia.pl" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2006.

Sources

  • Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report. London: British Olympic Association.
  • De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Fencing 1908". Accessed 29 April 2006. Available electronically at .
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