The men's épée was one of four fencing

Fencing

Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...

 events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics

At the 1908 Summer Olympics, four fencing events were contested.The 1908 Games were the first to lack a foil competition. Foil fencing, "not being in the opinion of the organisers a form of sport which is improved by competition," was held only as a display. The 1908 Olympics did introduce team...

 programme. The medals were swept by the French fencers, who also took the gold medal in the team épée

Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's team épée

The men's team épée was one of four fencing events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The event was won by the French team, who also swept the medals in the individual épée event.-Play-in match:...

 event.

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Lauritz Østrup		5	1
2	Bernard Gravier Bernard Gravier Bernard Gravier was a French fencer. He won a gold medal in the team épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	2
	Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek		4	2
4	Eric Carlberg Eric Carlberg Gustaf Eric Carlberg was a Swedish sport shooter, fencer, and modern pentathlete who competed in the 1906 Summer Olympics, in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics.1906 AthensIn the 1906 Summer Olympics he participated in the following shooting...		3	3
5	Pontus von Rosen Pontus von Rosen Pontus von Rosen was a Swedish Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	4
6	Georg Stöhr Georg Stöhr Georg Stöhr was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	5
7	Luke Fildes Luke Fildes (fencer) Luke Fildes was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	6

Pool B

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský was a Bohemian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		5	1
2	Charles Colignon		5	2
3	Pietro Speciale Pietro Speciale Pietro Speciale was an Italian fencer. He won a silver medal in the individual foil event at the 1912 Summer Olympics and a gold in the team foil at the 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	3
4	Herbert Sander Herbert Sander Herbert Sander was a Danish Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1906 and 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	4
	Johan van Schreven Johan van Schreven Johan van Schreven was a Dutch fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	4
6	Walter Gates Walter Gates (fencer) Walter Gates was a South African Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	5
	Fritz Jack Fritz Jack Fritz Jack was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908, 1912 and 1928 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	5

Pool C

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Joseph Marais Joseph Marais Joseph Marais was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		5	0
2	Ejnar Levison Ejnar Levison Ejnar Levison was a Danish Olympic fencer. He competed at four Olympic Games.-References:...		3	2
	Gaston Renard Gaston Renard Gaston Renard was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
4	Johannes Adam Johannes Adam Johannes Adam was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4
	John Blake John Blake (fencer) John Blake was a British fencer. He competed at the 1908, 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	4
	Max Dwinger		2	4

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Henri-Georges Berger Henri-Georges Berger Herman Georges Berger was a French fencer and Olympic champion in épée competition.He received a gold medal in épée team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.-References:...		7	0
2	Otto Becker Otto Becker (fencer) Otto Becker was a Danish Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team épée events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	4
	Hans Bergsland Hans Bergsland Hans Bergsland was a Norwegian Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	4
	Dino Diana Dino Diana Dino Diana was an Italian fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	4
	Martin Holt		3	4
	Vilém Tvrzský Vilém Tvrzský Vilém Tvrzský was an Olympic fencer. He competed for Bohemia at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics and for Czechoslovakia at the 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	4
7	André Sarens André Sarens André Sarens was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	6
	George van Rossem George van Rossem George van Rossem was a Dutch fencer. He won a silver and three bronze medals. He was the President of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime from 1925 to 1928.-References:...		2	6

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
2	Otto Becker		3	2
	Dino Diana		3	2
	Martin Holt		2	2
	Vilém Tvrzský		2	2
6	Hans Bergsland		1	3

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
2	Martin Holt		2	1
	Vilém Tvrzský		2	1
4	Otto Becker		1	2
	Dino Diana		1	2

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Gaston Alibert Gaston Alibert Gaston Alibert was a French fencer and olympic champion in épée competition.He received a gold medal in épée individual and a gold medal in épée team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London...		7	1
2	Fernand de Montigny Fernand de Montigny Fernand de Montigny was a Belgian fencer and hockey player. He won two silver medals and two bronze in fencing and a bronze in hockey. He was also the architect of the 1920 Olympic Stadium.-References:...		5	3
	Ivan Osiier		5	3
4	Percival Davson		3	4
	Sante Ceccherini Sante Ceccherini Sante Ceccherini was an Italian fencer. He won a silver medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	4
6	Otakar Lada Otakar Lada Otakar Lada was a Bohemian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	5
7	Robert Krünert Robert Krünert Robert Krünert was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1906 and 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	6
	Maurits Jacob van Löben Sels		3	6

Pool F

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	François Rom François Rom François Rom was a Belgian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	1
2	Giulio Cagiati Giulio Cagiati Giulio Cagiati was an Italian fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	2
	Sydney Martineau Sydney Martineau Sydney Martineau was a British fencer who took part in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, and the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's épée....		3	2
4	Henry Peyron		3	3
5	Albert Naumann Albert Naumann Albert Naumann was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4
	Bedrich Schejbal Bedřich Schejbal Bedřich Schejbal was a Bohemian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4

Pool G

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Leaf Daniell		5	1
2	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf was a Bohemian fencer and olympic medalist in sabre competition.He received a bronze medal in sabre individual and in sabre team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.-References:...		4	2
3	Fernand Bosmans Fernand Bosmans Fernand Bosmans was a Belgian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	3
	Frédéric Dubordieu Frédéric Dubordieu Frédéric Dubordieu was a French Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	3
	Emil Schön Emil Schön Emil Schön was a German Olympic fencer. He won a gold medal in the team sabre event at the 1906 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	3
6	Dezső Földes Dezso Földes The title of this article contains the characters ő and ö. Where they are unavailable, the name may be represented as Dezso Foldes.Dr. Dezső Földes was a Hungarian saber fencer...		1	5
7	Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh was a Dutch fencer. He won three bronze medals.-References:...		1	6

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

Place	Fencer	Nation
3	Fernand Bosmans
4	Frédéric Dubordieu
	Emil Schön

Pool H

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Alfred Labouchere Alfred Labouchere Alfred Labouchere was a Dutch fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1928 Summer Olympics.-References:...		5	1
2	Paul Anspach Paul Anspach Paul Anspach was a Belgian épée and foil fencer.Anspach competed in four Olympiads for the Belgian fencing team .-Early life:Anspach was born in Burcht, Belgium on 1 April 1882....		5	2
3	Ralph Chalmers Ralph Chalmers Ralph Chalmers was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics. He died at the Second Battle of Ypres during World War I.-External links:...		3	3
	Jacques Rodocanachi Jacques Rodocanachi Jacques Rodocanachi was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	3
5	Jacob Erkrath de Bary		4	4
	Alessandro Pirzio Biroli		3	4
7	František Šourek-Tuček František Šourek-Tuček František Šourek-Tuček was a Bohemian fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	6

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
3	Jacques Rodocanachi		1	0
4	Ralph Chalmers		0	1

Pool I

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Robert Montgomerie Robert Montgomerie (fencer) Robert Montgomerie was a British fencer. He won two silver medals in the team épée competitions at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		6	1
2	Gustaf Lindblom Gustaf Lindblom (fencer) Gustaf Lindblom was a Swedish Olympic fencer. He competed at four Olympic Games.-References:...		5	3
	Giuseppe Mangiarotti		5	3
	René Quenessen René Quenessen René Quenessen was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	3
5	Frantz Jørgensen Frantz Jørgensen Frantz Jørgensen was a Danish Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	4
6	Percy Nobbs		2	6
	August Petri August Petri August Petri was a German Olympic fencer. He won a gold medal in the team sabre event at the 1906 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	6

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

Place	Fencer	Nation
2	Gustaf Lindblom
	René Quenessen
4	Giuseppe Mangiarotti

Pool J

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Edgar Amphlett		4	1
	Jetze Doorman Jetze Doorman Jetze Doorman was a Dutch Olympic fencer. He won four bronze medals. He also competed in the modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	1
3	Eugène Olivier Eugène Olivier Eugène Olivier was a French fencer and olympic champion in épée competition.He received a bronze medal in épée individual and a gold medal in épée team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.-References:...		3	2
4	Zulavszky Béla		2	4
	Ernst Moldenhauer Ernst Moldenhauer Ernst Moldenhauer was a German Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4
	Pietro Sarzano Pietro Sarzano Pietro Sarzano was an Italian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	4

Pool K

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Marcelo Bertinetti		3	1
2	Cecil Haig Cecil Haig Cecil Haig was a British Olympic fencer. He won a silver medal in the team épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was educated at Clifton College and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.-References:...		2	2
	Pierre le Blon Pierre le Blon Pierre le Blon was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
	Simon Okker Simon Okker Simon Okker was a Dutch Olympic epee- and foil fencer.Okker was Jewish, and was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He participated in the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece and in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. Okker was killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp in ...		3	2
5	Georg Branting		0	4

In the playoff for the second and third spots, le Blon won with Haig taking the final spot. Okker was eliminated.

Place	Fencer	Nation
2	Pierre le Blon
3	Cecil Haig
4	Simon Okker Simon Okker Simon Okker was a Dutch Olympic epee- and foil fencer.Okker was Jewish, and was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He participated in the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece and in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. Okker was killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp in ...

Pool L

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Alexandre Lippmann Alexandre Lippmann Alexandre Lippmann was a French Olympic epee fencer.-Olympics:He competed in 3 Olympiads for France, winning 5 medals, including 2 golds....		4	1
	François Stuyck François Stuyck François Stuyck was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		5	1
3	Riccardo Nowak Riccardo Nowak Riccardo Nowak was an Italian fencer who took part in the 1908 Olympic Games in London....		3	2
4	Birger Cnattingius Birger Cnattingius Birger Cnattingius was a Swedish fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4
	Edgar Seligman Edgar Seligman -External links:****...		2	4
6	Gösta Olson Gösta Olson Gustaf "Gösta" Olson was a Swedish gymnast who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was part of the Swedish team, which was able to win the gold medal in the gymnastics men's team event in 1908. He also competed in the individual épée fencing event.-External links:*...		1	5

Pool M

The final pool also had only 5 fencers.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Jean Stern Jean Stern Jean Stern, born in France, was a French épée fencer.-Olympic fencing career:Stern was a member of the French fencing team at the 1908 London Olympics, and competed in both the team and individual épée events. During the Games, the French team defeated Denmark , Great Britain , and Belgium to...		4	1
2	Henry Davids Henry Davids (fencer) Henry Davids was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
	Marcel van Langenhove Marcel Van Langenhove (fencer) Marcel Van Langenhove was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
4	Julius Lichtenfels Julius Lichtenfels Julius Lichtenfels was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
	Tóth Péter		1	3

Second round

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

Pool 1

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Pierre le Blon		4	1
2	Jetze Doorman		2	2
	Jean Stern		4	2
4	François Stuyck		1	3
5	Ejnar Levison		1	4

Doorman again lost to Stern in the playoff bout.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
2	Jean Stern		1	0
3	Jetze Doorman		0	1

Pool 2

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Lauritz Østrup		3	1
2	Ivan Osiier		2	2
	Gaston Renard		2	2
	Jacques Rodocanachi		2	2
5	Edgar Amphlett		1	3

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

Place	Fencer	Nation
2	Gaston Renard
3	Ivan Osiier
	Jacques Rodocanachi

Pool 3

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Gaston Alibert		4	0
2	Henri-Georges Berger		3	2
	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf		2	2
4	Pietro Speciale		1	3
5	Henry Davids		1	4

Berger won the playoff, defeating von Lobsdorf again.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
2	Henri-Georges Berger		1	0
3	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf		0	1

Pool 4

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Martin Holt		3	1
2	Bernard Gravier		2	2
	Robert Montgomerie		2	2
	Vilém Tvrzský		2	2
5	Joseph Marais		1	3

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

Place	Fencer	Nation
2	Robert Montgomerie
3	Bernard Gravier
	Vilém Tvrzský

Pool 5

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Gustaf Lindblom		3	1
	Alexandre Lippmann		4	1
3	Leaf Daniell		3	2
4	Marcelo Bertinetti		1	3
5	Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský		0	4

Pool 6

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	François Rom		3	1
2	Fernand Bosmans		4	2
3	Charles Colignon		1	3
	Marcel van Langenhove		2	3
	Riccardo Nowak		2	3

Pool 7

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Paul Anspach		3	1
2	Alfred Labouchere		2	2
	Sydney Martineau Sydney Martineau Sydney Martineau was a British fencer who took part in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, and the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's épée....		2	2
	Fernand de Montigny		2	2
5	Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek		1	3

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

Place	Fencer	Nation
2	Alfred Labouchere
3	Sydney Martineau
	Fernand de Montigny

Pool 8

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Cecil Haig		2	1
	Eugène Olivier		2	1
3	Giulio Cagiati		1	2
	René Quenessen		1	2

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Gaston Alibert		7	2
2	Cecil Haig		4	3
	Alfred Labouchere		4	3
4	Robert Montgomerie		3	4
5	Henri-Georges Berger		4	5
	Gaston Renard		3	5
	François Rom		5	5
8	Fernand Bosmans		4	7

Semifinal 2

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Paul Anspach		5	2
2	Martin Holt		4	3
3	Alexandre Lippmann		5	4
	Eugène Olivier		5	4
	Jean Stern		3	4
6	Gustaf Lindblom		4	5
	Lauritz Østrup		5	5
8	Pierre le Blon		2	6

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
3	Alexandre Lippmann		2	0
4	Eugène Olivier		1	1
5	Jean Stern		0	2

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.

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
1	Gaston Alibert		7	2
2	Alexandre Lippmann		5	3
	Robert Montgomerie		6	3
	Eugène Olivier		4	3
5	Paul Anspach		2	5
	Cecil Haig		2	5
	Alfred Labouchere		2	5
8	Martin Holt		2	6

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

Place	Fencer	Nation	For	Against
2	Alexandre Lippmann		2	0
3	Eugène Olivier		1	1
4	Robert Montgomerie		0	2

Sources

• De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Fencing 1908". Accessed 29 April 2006. Available electronically at .