Épée, Individual, Women

Since 2000 the medal podium at the World Championships had completely changed on each occasion with no fencer winning more than a single medal over the three years of competition. Part of this can be explained by the absence due to pregnancy during part of this time by the Olympic champions of 2000 and 2004. Both Tímea Nagy and Laura Flessel-Colovic had taken time away from the sport to have babies with Flessel-Colovic’s progress also having been compromised by a positive drug test from an over-the-counter medication she was given by a team doctor. The two former champions made their way to the final and although Nagy lost the first point she then gained control, opening up a three-point lead at 7-4 before easing towards a 15-10 victory and a successful defence of her gold medal. Nagy announced her retirement after her win but changed her decision and went on to win the 2006 world title. She failed to be selected to defend her title in Beijing and eventually retired for good in 2010.