New fencing star in France, Marie-Florence Candassamy dreams of the gold medal in épée this summer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Biography, achievements, Laura Flessel, find out who the French fencer is.
Marie-Florence Candassamy was born on February 26, 1991 in Paris (Île-de-France). Young Marie-Florence began fencing at the age of seven, with the Paris Université Club. An unusual choice for a young girl, for which her parents are responsible. “My parents wanted me to practice a sporting activity. They decided for me, and it was a very good choice!” It must be said that she quickly showed aptitude in this discipline, even though she was the only one in her family to practice fencing. Although she started with foil, Marie-Florence Candassamy quickly moved on to épée, encouraged by her fencing master, where she shone thanks to her size (she is now 1m85 tall) and her speed. Proof of her precocity, she was only 13 years old when she took part in her first international competitions as a youth.
Accompanied by her father, Marie-Florence Candassamy traveled the world and continued her progression. The French fencer began to collect her first medals on the national and international level from 2014, with an individual silver medal at the European Championships in Strasbourg. Selected to participate in her first Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, she finished in 9th place individually. Not a disappointment for the Parisian, for whom “qualifying for the Games was already exceptional.” After reaching a milestone, and perhaps a little behind expectations, Marie-Florence Candassamy began to collect medals at the international level, whether at the European Championships or the World Championships.
The consecration comes in 2023, with the gold medal obtained at the World Championships in Milan, succeeding Maureen Nisima, world champion in 2010. A new status confirmed by a place as world number one in the process. Now a candidate for the Olympic podium at the Paris OlympicsMarie-Florence Candassamy will have to manage the pressure of such an event at home, since she still lives within Paris.
What is Marie-Florence Candassamy’s track record?
The most beautiful title won by Marie-Florence Candassamy is undoubtedly the one obtained at the world championships, in 2023. Previously, individually, she had “only” won silver at the 2014 and 2019 European championships. She was crowned French champion in 2018 and has four bronze medals at the national level individually (2014, 2016, 2019 and 2022). In team events, Candassamy has won three gold medals at the European championships (2018, 2022 and 2023) and one silver medal (2016). She has no Olympic medals.
Can Marie-Florence Candassamy be crowned Olympic champion?
Can Marie-Florence Candassamy succeed Laura Flessel, the first and only French Olympic sabre champion in 1996 in Atlanta? Since winning her world title in 2023, the Frenchwoman is bound to be a candidate for the Holy Grail, after a successful 2023 in the World Cup (4 podiums out of 8 stages). Her fencing master, Hervé Faget, thinks that this title can help her in this quest. “She always came second or third, she was the Poulidor of the épée,” he confided to La Croix. “We told her that she had to win once, she chose the right competition, the World Championships. I hope for her – and for us – that it will allow her to loosen up and see other titles behind her.” Gold at the Games? “Of course she thinks about it,” confided the fencing master. But it must be unconscious, not to put too much emphasis on the deadline so as not to add stress.”