That was the Grand Prix de Berne 2021!


Press release | Bern, 23rd November 2021

A very exciting final, very strong French athletes and zero covid: The 57th Grand Prix de Berne went smoothly despite extensive Corona protection measures. The victory went to Ruben Limardo Gascon (VEN) ahead of Alexandre Bardenet and Romain Cannone (both FRA). Best Swiss fencer was Max Heinzer in 11th place. The team competition was won by the Russian fencers ahead of those from Spain and Japan; the Swiss team finished in 17th place.

Around 270 individual fencers and more than 30 teams competed in the 57th Grand Prix de Berne from November 19 to 21, 2021. For the organizers, it was, so to say, an «interim GP» after a one-and-a-half-year forced break – and the first under Covid conditions. «Everything worked well, from the tests to the issuing of the certificates to the arrangement of the premises», sums up OC President Markus Burkhalter. «We will, of course, do a debriefing and see what we can do even better at the next GP.» By the way, not a single Covid-test was positive, so that all fencers could be issued a certificate.

Max Heinzer alone in the field

For the Swiss team at the GP the conclusion is less positive. Max Heinzer was the only Swiss fencer to make it into the 32-tableau, but lost 6:15 his match to enter the top 8 against Romain Cannone (FRA), who came in third in the general ranking, and ended up in 11th place. The winner was Venezuelan Ruben Limardo Gascon ahead of Alexandre Bardenet (FRA) and Romain Cannone (FRA). France convinced with a strong overall performance: Four fencers placed among the top 10. Best fencer from Bern was Jonathan Fuhrimann from the Fencing Club Bern on 126th place; Pascal Grunder from AFCB reached 212th place.

Exciting final match in the team competition

Unfortunately, there was also little reason to cheer in Sunday’s team competition: The Swiss team with Max Heinzer, Michele Niggeler, Alexis Bayard and Lucas Malcotti lost early on to a by no means outstanding Swedish team and finished the tournament in 17th place. The final between Russia and Spain was downright nerve-racking and super exciting, with the score at the end 44:44 before the Russians were able to score the decisive goal. Both teams fenced on a very high level, elegant and balanced – fencing at its best.

More information

Markus Burkhalter, Phone +41 79 470 00 94, gp-bern@burkhalterag.ch
Website: https://www.berne-world-cup.ch


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