BUDAPEST – The 2026 Military World Championships are underway in Budapest: on the opening day, Italy debuted with a bronze medal won by Manuela Spica, who finished third in the women's individual sabre event, while Alessia Di Carlo and Michela Landi finished just shy of the podium. The Fiamme Gialle fencer scored an excellent performance and a significant result on the Hungarian stages. Ranked number two after a strong group stage, Manuela Spica defeated Canada's Saciuk 15-1 in the round of 16 and then won the Italian derby against Alessia Di Carlo 15-8 in the quarterfinals. Only in the semifinals, after a hard-fought match, did she lose 15-13 to Poland's Cieslar, securing Manuela Spica's third place.
Alessia Di Carlo of the Air Force, 6th place after the defeat in the all-Italian assault against Spica, and Michela Landi of the Army Sports Centre, 7th after the quarter-final loss (15-9) against the French Noutcha, finished just a few thrusts away from the "medal zone", as mentioned. In the men's épée, Enrico Piatti (Aeronautica Militare) and Fabrizio Cuomo (Centro Sportivo Esercito) stopped just outside the top 8, finishing in 9th and 13th place respectively, while Jacopo Rizzi (Aeronautica Militare) finished 25th.
On the second day of the 2026 Military World Championships in Budapest, the individual women's épée events will feature Gaia Caforio (Italian Air Force), Beatrice Cagnin (Italian Air Force), and Nicol Foietta (Army Sports Center), as well as the men's foil events, where the Italian national team will be represented by Giuseppe Franzoni (Fiamme Gialle), Davide Filippi (Army Sports Center), and Mattia De Cristofaro (Carabinieri Sports Center). Also on the program are the team events in men's épée (where Enrico Piatti, Fabrizio Cuomo, and Jacopo Rizzi will return to the platform) and women's sabre (the Italian trio will consist of Alessia Di Carlo, Michela Landi, and Manuela Spica).
The Italian delegation participating in the 49th edition of the World Military Championships is led by Head of Mission Andrea Colotti and composed of Team Captain Umberto Placentino, instructors Gabriele Anfora for foil, Francesca Boscarelli for epee, Alberto Pellegrini for saber, and physiotherapist Stefano Bussi. Also present in the Hungarian capital as officials are international referees Giuliana Bellizia, Filippo Canepa, and Davide Nigrone.
