PARIS 2024: Alexandra Ndolo eliminated after narrow first round loss

Kenyan left-handed épée fencer Alexandra Ndolo, 38, will take no further part in this year’s Olympic Games after suffering elimination in the First Round of the Women’s Épée Individual competition following a narrow 13-12 loss to the Ukranian Olena Kryvytska, 37.

Ndolo, ranked 9^th in the world, started the contest well, winning the first period 2-1 after landing two hits against Kryvytska's one. Kryvtska is ranked 24^th in the world.

However, the Ukranian, who is competing at her fourth Olympic Games following appearances in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, came back strongly in the second period, landing two consecutive hits on Ndolo to take a 3-2 lead. From there on, Kryvytska kept pulling away despite Ndolo’s best efforts to level the score and the second period ended with Ndolo trailing 6-7.

In the final period, Ndolo suffered an early setback, losing a point to Kryvytska after collecting a yellow card and as a result trailing 6-8. However, that did not deter the Kenyan as she fought back to lead the contest 9-8 after landing three hits without reply.

What followed was a see-saw battle between the two veterans as Kryvytska kept catching up with Ndolo whenever she pulled away and the third period ended with the two fencers level at 12-12.

As such, the contest went to overtime and it was the Ukranian who landed the crucial hit that saw the nail-biting end 13-12 in her favour.

Despite the loss, Ndolo gave a good account of herself, and proved her pedigree. Her performance will surely inspire the growth of the sport in Kenya which is slowly gathering pace with numerous fencing competitions and events taking place in Nairobi on a weekly basis.

Épée fencing is the form of the sport that is proving popular in the country. It is also the one that Ndolo competes in.

The other forms of fencing are foil fencing and sabre fencing. While foil and sabre fencing only allow hits on the torso and certain key parts, in épée fencing, players score points by landing hits on any part of their opponent’s body.

Also, épée fencing uses a heavier blade with a slim blade and blunt tip. In épée fencing, players compete over three periods of three minutes each.

Speaking to Team Kenya media before her contest today, Ndolo said, “I love épée fencing because it is fun and challenging. It allows me to express myself because it can be a dance or a fight depending on how one moves.”