Individual, Women

Elena Micheli of Italy had won the World title in both 2022 and 2023, but missed the 2024 version of the championships to concentrate on her Olympic campaign. Her successor for World honours was Korea’s Seong Seung-Min, a 21-year-old who had emerged as a serious contender only in the 18 months prior to the Games.

The semi-finals were won by Kerenza Bryson of Great Britain and the veteran Frenchwoman Élodie Clouvel, but although reigning champion Kate French had looked impressive in comfortably reaching the final, she was unwell overnight and was forced to pull out due to a stomach ailment.

Like the men’s event, much of the competition was decided by the ranking round in fencing. Clouvel recorded 28 wins out of 35, while Hungarian police detective Michelle Gulyás scored 24 victories to place second. Through the final, the gap between the two women would fluctuate but, before the deciding laser run, Clouvel would have a head start of 13 seconds over Gulyás.

The home crowd cheered for “El-O-Die, El-O-Die” across the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. Clouvel arrived at the first shoot ahead of Gulyás, but Gulyás then distanced Clouvel. Although Clouvel’s second stop at the range was better, Gulyás still managed to gain time on her, and Seong Seung-Min’s exemplary marksmanship meant that she now held second place. Clouvel gained back the silver medal with improved shooting in the second half of the laser run but Gulyás was not to be denied the Olympic title. Seong held on the bronze medal, despite the efforts of the fast-finishing second string Hungarian Blanka Guzi.

Gulyás, whose father was an executive in the oil business, could be described as a citizen of the world. She was born in the UK, lived in Oman as a child, and was educated in Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary.