Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's épée

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.

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
← 1904
1912 →

Background

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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

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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

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Date Time Round
Friday, 17 July 1908 Round 1 pools A–H
Saturday, 18 July 1908 10:30
14:30
Round 1 pools I–L
Round 1 pool M
Monday, 20 July 1908 10:30
17:15
Quarterfinals 1–4
Quarterfinals 5–8
Thursday, 23 July 1908 10:30
16:00
Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2
Friday, 24 July 1908 14:45 Final

Results

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First round

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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

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Lauritz Østrup   Denmark 5 1 Q
2 Bernard Gravier   France 4 2 Q
Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek   Bohemia 4 2 Q
4 Eric Carlberg   Sweden 3 3
5 Pontus von Rosen   Sweden 2 4[3]
6 Georg Stöhr   Germany 1 5
7 Luke Fildes   Great Britain 0 6

Pool B

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský   Bohemia 5 1 Q
2 Charles Collignon   France 4 2 Q
3 Pietro Speciale   Italy 3 3 Q
4 Herbert Sander   Denmark 2 4
Johan van Schreven   Netherlands 2 4
6 Walter Gates   South Africa 1 5
Fritz Jack   Germany 1 5

Pool C

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Jacques Marais   France 5 0 Q
2 Ejnar Levison   Denmark 3 2 Q
Gaston Renard   Belgium 3 2 Q
4 Johannes Adam   Germany 1 4
John Blake   Great Britain 1 4
Max Dwinger   Netherlands 1 4

Pool D

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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.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Henri-Georges Berger   France 7 0 Q
2 Otto Becker   Denmark 3 4 B
Hans Bergsland   Norway 3 4 B
Dino Diana   Italy 3 4 B
Martin Holt   Great Britain 3 4 B
Vilém Tvrzský   Bohemia 3 4 B
7 André Sarens   Belgium 1 6
George van Rossem   Netherlands 1 6
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.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Otto Becker   Denmark 2 2 B
Dino Diana   Italy 2 2 B
Martin Holt   Great Britain 2 2 B
Vilém Tvrzský   Bohemia 2 2 B
6 Hans Bergsland   Norway 1 3
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.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Martin Holt   Great Britain 2 1 Q
Vilém Tvrzský   Bohemia 2 1 Q
4 Otto Becker   Denmark 1 2
Dino Diana   Italy 1 2

Pool E

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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.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Gaston Alibert   France 6 1 Q
2 Fernand de Montigny   Belgium 4 3 Q
Ivan Osiier   Denmark 4 3 Q
4 Percival Davson   Great Britain 3 4
Sante Ceccherini   Italy 3 4
6 Otakar Lada   Bohemia 2 5
7 Robert Krünert   Germany 1 6
Maurits Jacob van Löben Sels   Netherlands 1 6

Pool F

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 François Rom   Belgium 4 1 Q
2 Giulio Cagiati   Italy 3 2 Q
Sydney Martineau   Great Britain 3 2 Q
4 Henry Peyron   Sweden 2 3
5 Albert Naumann   Germany 1 4
Bedřich Schejbal   Bohemia 1 4

Pool G

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Leaf Daniell   Great Britain 5 1 Q
2 Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf   Bohemia 4 2 Q
3 Fernand Bosmans   Belgium 3 3 B
Frédéric Dubourdieu   France 3 3 B
Emil Schön   Germany 3 3 B
6 Dezső Földes   Hungary 1 5
7 Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh   Netherlands 0 6
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
3 Fernand Bosmans   Belgium 2 0 Q
4 Frédéric Dubourdieu   France 0 1
Emil Schön   Germany 0 1

Pool H

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Alfred Labouchere   Netherlands 5 1 Q
2 Paul Anspach   Belgium 4 2 Q
3 Ralph Chalmers   Great Britain 3 3 B
Jacques Rodocanachi   France 3 3 B
5 Jacob Erkrath de Bary   Germany 2 4
Alessandro Pirzio Biroli   Italy 2 4
7 František Dušek[4]   Bohemia 0 6
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
3 Jacques Rodocanachi   France 1 0 Q
4 Ralph Chalmers   Great Britain 0 1

Pool I

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 5 1 Q
2 Gustaf Lindblom   Sweden 3 3 B
Giuseppe Mangiarotti   Italy 3 3 B
Robert Quennessen   France 3 3 B
5 Frantz Jørgensen   Denmark 2 4
6 Percy Nobbs   Canada 0 6
August Petri   Germany 0 6
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Gustaf Lindblom   Sweden 1 0 Q
Robert Quennessen   France 1 0 Q
4 Giuseppe Mangiarotti   Italy 0 2

Pool J

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Edgar Amphlett   Great Britain 4 1 Q
Jetze Doorman   Netherlands 4 1 Q
3 Eugène Olivier   France 3 2 Q
4 Zulavszky Béla   Hungary 1 4
Ernst Moldenhauer   Germany 1 4
Pietro Sarzano   Italy 1 4

Pool K

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Marcelo Bertinetti   Italy 3 1 Q
2 Cecil Haig   Great Britain 2 2 B
Pierre le Blon   Belgium 2 2 B
Simon Okker   Netherlands 2 2 B
5 Georg Branting   Sweden 0 4
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Pierre le Blon   Belgium 1 0 Q
Cecil Haig   Great Britain 1 0 Q
4 Simon Okker   Netherlands 0 2

Pool L

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Alexandre Lippmann   France 4 1 Q
François Stuyck   Belgium 4 1 Q
3 Riccardo Nowak   Italy 3 2 Q
4 Birger Cnattingius   Sweden 1 4
Edgar Seligman   Great Britain 1 4
6 Gösta Olson   Sweden 0 5

Pool M

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The final pool also had only 5 fencers.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Jean Stern   France 3 1 Q
2 Henri Davids   Great Britain 2 2 Q
Marcel van Langenhove   Belgium 2 2 Q
4 Julius Lichtenfels   Germany 1 3
Tóth Péter   Hungary 1 3

Quarterfinals

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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

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Pierre le Blon   Belgium 3 1 Q
2 Jetze Doorman   Netherlands 2 2 B
Jean Stern   France 2 2 B
4 François Stuyck   Belgium 1 3
5 Ejnar Levison   Denmark 0 4
Barrage

Doorman again lost to Stern in the playoff bout.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Jean Stern   France 1 0 Q
3 Jetze Doorman   Netherlands 0 1

Quarterfinal 2

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Lauritz Østrup   Denmark 3 1 Q
2 Ivan Osiier   Denmark 2 2 B
Gaston Renard   Belgium 2 2 B
Jacques Rodocanachi   France 2 2 B
5 Edgar Amphlett   Great Britain 1 3
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Gaston Renard   Belgium 2 0 Q
3 Ivan Osiier   Denmark 0 1
Jacques Rodocanachi   France 0 1

Quarterfinal 3

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Gaston Alibert   France 4 0 Q
2 Henri-Georges Berger   France 2 2 B
Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf   Bohemia 2 2 B
4 Pietro Speciale   Italy 1 3
5 Henri Davids   Great Britain 0 4
Barrage

Berger won the playoff, defeating von Lobsdorf again.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Henri-Georges Berger   France 1 0 Q
3 Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf   Bohemia 0 1

Quarterfinal 4

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Martin Holt   Great Britain 3 1 Q
2 Bernard Gravier   France 2 2 B
Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 2 2 B
Vilém Tvrzský   Bohemia 2 2 B
5 Jacques Marais   France 1 3
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 2 0 Q
3 Bernard Gravier   France 0 1
Vilém Tvrzský   Bohemia 0 1

Quarterfinal 5

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Gustaf Lindblom   Sweden 3 1 Q
Alexandre Lippmann   France 3 1 Q
3 Leaf Daniell   Great Britain 2 2
4 Marcelo Bertinetti   Italy 1 3
5 Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský   Bohemia 0 4

Quarterfinal 6

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 François Rom   Belgium 3 1 Q
2 Fernand Bosmans   Belgium 2 2 Q
3 Charles Colignon   France 1 3
Marcel van Langenhove   Belgium 1 3
Riccardo Nowak   Italy 1 3

Quarterfinal 7

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Paul Anspach   Belgium 3 1 Q
2 Alfred Labouchere   Netherlands 2 2 B
Sydney Martineau   Great Britain 2 2 B
Fernand de Montigny   Belgium 2 2 B
5 Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek   Bohemia 1 3
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
2 Alfred Labouchere   Netherlands 2 0 Q
3 Sydney Martineau   Great Britain 0 1
Fernand de Montigny   Belgium 0 1

Quarterfinal 8

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Cecil Haig   Great Britain 2 1 Q
Eugène Olivier   France 2 1 Q
3 Giulio Cagiati   Italy 1 2
Robert Quennessen   France 1 2

Semifinals

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

Semifinal 1

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Alibert was hit twice, both in double-touches.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Gaston Alibert   France 5 2 Q
2 Cecil Haig   Great Britain 4 3 Q
Alfred Labouchere   Netherlands 4 3 Q
4 Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 3 4 Q
5 Henri-Georges Berger   France 2 5
Gaston Renard   Belgium 2 5
François Rom   Belgium 2 5
8 Fernand Bosmans   Belgium 0 7

Semifinal 2

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Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
1 Paul Anspach   Belgium 5 2 Q
2 Martin Holt   Great Britain 4 3 Q
3 Alexandre Lippmann   France 3 4 B
Eugène Olivier   France 3 4 B
Jean Stern   France 3 4 B
6 Gustaf Lindblom   Sweden 2 5
Lauritz Østrup   Denmark 2 5
8 Pierre le Blon   Belgium 1 6
Barrage
Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
3 Alexandre Lippmann   France 2 0 Q
4 Eugène Olivier   France 1 1 Q
5 Jean Stern   France 0 2

Final

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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.

Rank Fencer Nation W L Notes
  Gaston Alibert   France 5 2
2 Alexandre Lippmann   France 4 3 B
Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 4 3 B
Eugène Olivier   France 4 3 B
5 Paul Anspach   Belgium 2 5
Cecil Haig   Great Britain 2 5
Alfred Labouchere   Netherlands 2 5
8 Martin Holt   Great Britain 1 6
Barrage

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

Rank Fencer Nation W L
  Alexandre Lippmann   France 2 0
  Eugène Olivier   France 1 1
4 Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 0 2

Results summary

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Rank Fencer Nation Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Total
W L Rank W L Rank W L Rank W L W L
  Gaston Alibert   France 6 1 1st 4 0 1st 5 2 1st 5 2 20 5
  Alexandre Lippmann   France 4 1 1st 3 1 1st 3+2 4+0 3rd 4+2 3+0 18 9
  Eugène Olivier   France 3 2 3rd 2 1 1st 3+1 4+1 4th 4+1 3+1 14 12
4 Robert Montgomerie   Great Britain 5 1 1st 2+2 2+0 2nd 3 4 4th 4+0 3+2 16 11
5 Paul Anspach   Belgium 4 2 2nd 3 1 1st 5 2 1st 2 5 14 10
Cecil Haig   Great Britain 2+1 2+0 2nd 2 1 1st 4 3 2nd 2 5 11 11
Alfred Labouchere   Netherlands 5 1 1st 2+2 2+0 2nd 4 3 2nd 2 5 15 11
8 Martin Holt   Great Britain 3+2+2 4+2+1 2nd 3 1 1st 4 3 2nd 1 6 15 17
9 Henri-Georges Berger   France 7 0 1st 2+1 2+0 2nd 2 5 5th Did not advance 12 7
Gaston Renard   Belgium 3 2 2nd 2+2 2+0 2nd 2 5 5th 9 9
François Rom   Belgium 4 1 1st 3 1 1st 2 5 5th 9 7
Jean Stern   France 3 1 1st 2+1 2+0 2nd 3+0 4+2 5th 9 9
13 Gustaf Lindblom   Sweden 3+1 3+0 2nd 3 1 1st 2 5 6th 9 9
Lauritz Østrup   Denmark 5 1 1st 3 1 1st 2 5 6th 10 7
15 Pierre le Blon   Belgium 2+1 2+0 2nd 3 1 1st 1 6 8th 7 9
Fernand Bosmans   Belgium 3+2 3+0 3rd 2 2 2nd 0 7 8th 7 12
17 Giulio Cagiati   Italy 3 2 2nd 1 2 3rd Did not advance 4 4
Charles Colignon   France 4 2 2nd 1 3 3rd 5 5
Leaf Daniell   Great Britain 5 1 1st 2 2 3rd 7 3
Jetze Doorman   Netherlands 4 1 1st 2+0 2+1 3rd 6 4
Bernard Gravier   France 4 2 2nd 2+0 2+1 3rd 6 5
Marcel van Langenhove   Belgium 2 2 2nd 1 3 3rd 3 5
Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf   Bohemia 4 2 2nd 2+0 2+1 3rd 6 5
Sydney Martineau   Great Britain 3 2 2nd 2+0 2+1 3rd 5 5
Fernand de Montigny   Belgium 4 3 2nd 2+0 2+1 3rd 6 6
Riccardo Nowak   Italy 3 2 3rd 1 3 3rd 4 5
Ivan Osiier   Denmark 4 3 2nd 2+0 2+1 3rd 6 6
Robert Quennessen   France 3+1 3+0 2nd 1 2 3rd 5 5
Jacques Rodocanachi   France 3+1 3+0 3rd 2+0 2+1 3rd 6 6
Vilém Tvrzský   Bohemia 3+2+2 4+2+1 2nd 2+0 2+1 3rd 9 10
31 Marcelo Bertinetti   Italy 3 1 1st 1 3 4th 4 4
Pietro Speciale   Italy 3 3 3rd 1 3 4th 4 6
François Stuyck   Belgium 4 1 1st 1 3 4th 5 4
34 Edgar Amphlett   Great Britain 4 1 1st 1 3 5th 5 4
Henri Davids   Great Britain 2 2 2nd 0 4 5th 2 6
Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský   Bohemia 5 1 1st 0 4 5th 5 5
Ejnar Levison   Denmark 3 2 2nd 0 4 5th 3 6
Jacques Marais   France 5 0 1st 1 3 5th 6 3
Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek   Bohemia 4 2 2nd 1 3 5th 5 5
40 Johannes Adam   Germany 1 4 4th Did not advance 1 4
Otto Becker   Denmark 3+2+1 4+2+2 4th 6 8
Zulavszky Béla   Hungary 1 4 4th 1 4
John Blake   Great Britain 1 4 4th 1 4
Eric Carlberg   Sweden 3 3 4th 3 3
Sante Ceccherini   Italy 3 4 4th 3 4
Ralph Chalmers   Great Britain 3+0 3+1 4th 3 4
Birger Cnattingius   Sweden 1 4 4th 1 4
Percival Davson   Great Britain 3 4 4th 3 4
Dino Diana   Italy 3+2+1 4+2+2 4th 6 8
Frédéric Dubourdieu   France 3+0 3+1 4th 3 4
Max Dwinger   Netherlands 1 4 4th 1 4
Julius Lichtenfels   Germany 1 3 4th 1 3
Giuseppe Mangiarotti   Italy 3+0 3+2 4th 3 5
Ernst Moldenhauer   Germany 1 4 4th 1 4
Simon Okker   Netherlands 2+0 2+2 4th 2 4
Henry Peyron   Sweden 2 3 4th 2 3
Herbert Sander   Denmark 2 4 4th 2 4
Pietro Sarzano   Italy 1 4 4th 1 4
Emil Schön   Germany 3+0 3+1 4th 3 4
Johan van Schreven   Netherlands 2 4 4th 2 4
Edgar Seligman   Great Britain 1 4 4th 1 4
Tóth Péter   Hungary 1 3 4th 1 3
63 Jacob Erkrath de Bary   Germany 2 4 5th 2 4
Georg Branting   Sweden 0 4 5th 0 4
Frantz Jørgensen   Denmark 2 4 5th 2 4
Albert Naumann   Germany 1 4 5th 1 4
Alessandro Pirzio Biroli   Italy 2 4 5th 2 4
Pontus von Rosen   Sweden 2 4[3] 5th 2 4
Bedrich Schejbal   Bohemia 1 4 5th 1 4
70 Hans Bergsland   Norway 3+1 4+3 6th 4 7
Dezső Földes   Hungary 1 5 6th 1 5
Walter Gates   South Africa 1 5 6th 1 5
Fritz Jack   Germany 1 5 6th 1 5
Otakar Lada   Bohemia 2 5 6th 2 5
Percy Nobbs   Canada 0 6 6th 0 6
Gösta Olson   Sweden 0 5 6th 0 5
August Petri   Germany 0 6 6th 0 6
Georg Stöhr   Germany 1 5 6th 1 5
79 Luke Fildes   Great Britain 0 6 7th 0 6
Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh   Netherlands 0 6 7th 0 6
Robert Krünert   Germany 1 6 7th 1 6
Maurits Jacob van Löben Sels   Netherlands 1 6 7th 1 6
George van Rossem   Netherlands 1 6 7th 1 6
André Sarens   Belgium 1 6 7th 1 6
František Dušek[4]   Bohemia 0 6 7th 0 6

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Épée, Individual, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. ^ Official Report, p.34.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "comdat.w.interia.pl" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2006.

Sources

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  • 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 [1] Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.