Aris Kiagias won the bronze medal in foil fencing, securing Cyprus’s fourth medal at the 4th Youth Olympic Games “Dakar 2026”!
In a thrilling third-place match, the Cypriot fencer defeated Britain’s Mohammed Belbouab 15–14 in a match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last moment!
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Aris got off to an impressive start, leading 8-2, but his opponent fought back and managed to turn the score around, taking a 13-9 lead and then a 14-12 lead.
But that’s when Aris’s spirit, determination, and immense mental fortitude came to the fore! With an astonishing comeback, he turned the match around, scored three decisive points, and secured the victory 15-14, clinching the bronze medal!
All of Aris’s matches leading up to the medal—from the group stage through the knockout phase—are as follows:
Foil / Pool 1
Aris Kiagias vs. MARTINEZ BRAVO Angel Santiago (VEN) 5-2
Aris Kiagias vs. HO Shing Him Harris (HGK) 5-2
Aris Kiagias vs. Ziad Abdelah Benabed (ALG) 5-1
Aris Kiagias vs. SY Abdourahmane Marieme (SEN) 5-1
Aris Kiagias vs. KOFOED Hannibal Lykke (DEN) 5-2
Aris Kiagias vs. ACOSTA MURILLO Sebastian (CRC) 1-5
Knockout Round
“Round of 16” Aris Kiagias vs. THIAM Thierno Hady (MLI) 15-0
“8” Aris Kiagias vs. KOFOED Hannibal Lykke (DEN) 15-6
“SF” Aris Kiagias vs. HO Shing Him Harris (HGK) 10-15
“Bronze Medal Match” Aris Kiagias vs. BELBOUAB Mohammed (GBR) 15-14
Aris Kiagias’s medal is the first ever won by Cypriot fencing in the history of the Youth Olympic Games—and this marks the sport’s very first appearance at the event!
Aris, who was born and lives in the United States and is of Cypriot descent on his father’s side, honored the Cypriot flag and the Cypriot Olympic Committee delegation in the best possible way!
Following Marina Hatzikosta’s gold medal in the discus throw and Andrew Marcus Lagoutis’s two bronze medals in swimming, Aris adds yet another medal to the historic tally of the Cypriot delegation!
