Fencer Nick Itkin wins the bronze medal in individual men’s foil.
Nick Itkin, an American right-handed foil fencer, won a bronze medal in the individual men’s foil at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 29.
He told the press after his win that “Obviously the dream is the gold, but I’m super happy to walk away with some kind of jewelry hardware. All the hard work I had put in – it was worth it.” He defeated Japan’s Kazuki Iimura 15-12 to take third click here.
In the quarterfinals, the, the 157 pound, 6’2” athlete beat Italy’s Guillaume Bianchi 15-14 in overtime.
Itkin credited his coach and father Misha Itkin and three-time Olympian Miles Chamely-Watson for his training and increased confidence. Chamely-Watson, 34, also coached by Itkin’s dad, is one of the biggest fencing stars in the world.
Itkin had been part of the men’s foil team in the Toyoko Olympics, which received a bronze, but this was the 24-year-old’s first individual medal at the Olympics.
He graduated from Palisades Charter High School in 2017, before attending Notre Dame University where he won multiple individual and team championships.
Ranked as the #2 foil fencer in the world, Itkin, 24, is the first U.S. man and third U.S. fencer over all to win individual medals at back-to-back World Championships after winning a silver medal at the 2023 World Fencing Championships.
In an interview with the International Fencing Federation, Itkin said, “My father is a fencing coach, and he introduced the sport to me when I was about seven. I love this sport more than anything, my life revolves around fencing. There is no better feeling than overplaying my opponent and scoring a nice touch.”
The son of Michael and Tatyana Itkin, his father was a former elite fencer from Ukraine and his mother was a member of Ukraine’s rhythmic gymnastics team. Michael emigrated from the Ukraine to the United States and founded, the Los Angeles International Fencing Center in 2003.