GB's Coutya wins birthday European Para-fencing gold

Dimitri Coutya who has a full beard and wearing a white GBR Fencing kit is smiling as he sits on the piste after a victory over Italy, with the scoreboard behind him.British Fencing

Dimitri Coutya claimed the 90th medal of his career

Izemrasen Alahyan
BBC Sport Wales

Dimitri Coutya celebrated his 29th birthday by claiming Team GB's first gold medal at the 2026 Para-fencing European Championships.

Coutya claimed the 90th medal of a glittering career after beating Italy's Amelio Castro in a close-fought encounter.

The men's epee category B match went two rounds with Coutya edging Castro 15-12 in Cardiff.

"Yes it ended with a win but I could fence a lot better than that," he said.

"My performance was good, up until the second half of that match, where I lost my head quite a lot.

"I could see what he was doing but couldn't bring myself to figure out the solution.

"But to win on home soil is particularly special. I've got family here and it's really important for the profile of the sport in the country.

"We've got one of the biggest squads we've ever fielded at a major championship here so t win at least one title this week is very important."

From left to right, a British Fencing executive committee member stands beside four wheelchair fencing medallists and the World Abilitysport President during a medal ceremony at the Para Fencing European Championships. Silver medallist Nadia Doloh of Ukraine wears a yellow team jacket and blue trousers while holding her medal and event mascot. Gold medallist Ionela Andreea Mogos of Italy wears a navy Italian team tracksuit and holds her gold medal and mascot. Bronze medallist Viktoriia Boykova, competing as a neutral athlete, wears a black tracksuit and displays her medal. Justine Moore of Great Britain sits alongside wearing a navy GB team tracksuit and orange trainers, holding a bronze medal and mascot. At the far right, the World Abilitysport President sits in a wheelchair wearing a tan blazer, red tie and glasses. Championship branding and a large image of a Team GB fencing mask form the backdrop.British Fencing

Team GB have won 10 medals in the opening two days of the event in Cardiff, including Justine Moore (second from right)

Justine Moore also reached the podium for Team GB, securing her third bronze medal of the competition.

Moore reached the semi-final where she was beaten 15-4 by eventual champion Ionela Andrea Mogos of Italy.

Ukraine's Nadia Doloh claimed silver while neutral athlete Viktoriia Boykova shared bronze with Moore.

Elsewhere Poland edged out Ukraine 30-29 to take the women's team epee. However Ukraine won the men's event where the British quartet of James Burke, Matt Clement, James Middlehurst and Joshua Waddell finished fifth.

In the new mixed sabre event, making its debut ahead of the 2028 Olympics, the British team of Burke, Moore, Susanne Seddon-Cowell and Rashid Shah missed out on a medal in fourth place, behind winners Poland.

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