Men’s epee books ticket to Paris 2024. After the women’s foil, the World Cup weekend that has just ended also results in Olympic qualification for the national team coached by Dario Chiadò. In the team event, at dawn in Italy, the Italian men’s team ended the World Cup epee leg in Vancouver on the second step of the podium, yielding only in the final against Japan (32-27). With two competitions remaining, this result reaffirms the Azzurri's position at the head of the Olympic Qualification Ranking, allowing them to preempt entry to the 2024 Games. Meanwhile, the Italian women’s team concluded the competition in Canada in fifth place, mirroring their performance from the first event of the world championship circuit held a month ago in Legnano. On the Canadian pistes, Italy, the reigning world champion in men’s epee, and featuring Valerio Cuomo in the quartet (in place of the unavailable Gabriele Cimini), along with Davide Di Veroli, Federico Vismara, and Andrea Santarelli, delivered an outstanding performance. They triumphed in the first round against Australia with a score of 45-27, progressed through the round of 16 against Poland with a 35-30 victory, and secured a place in the semi-finals by overcoming the Czech Republic, defeated 37-35 in a sustained assault by the Italian team. In the semi-finals, the team led by coach Dario Chiadò on the bench and staff coach Enrico Di Ciolo delivered another show of strength against Venezuela: a perfect match ended 44-36, opening the door to the showdown for the Azzurri. In the final, it was a battle between the two reigning world title holders, Italy, and the Olympic gold medallist in men’s epee, Japan. The Japanese initially held a lead of +6, but one after the other, Di Veroli, Santarelli, and Vismara managed to narrow the gap. In the ninth and final bout between Di Veroli and Kano, the score was tied just seconds from the end at 26-26. However, in the face of a last “desperate” attempt to stage a comeback by the Italian team, the Japanese increased their advantage, celebrating the final result of 32-27. Italy returns home with a runner-up spot and a ticket to Paris 2024, which will allow them to field three epees in the individual event. They achieve this as a team, offering a special dedication to Gabriele Cimini (with a banner reading “Forza Cimo” displayed by his teammates on the podium), who was unable to join them on their Canadian outing.