Cypriot fencer Alexandros Tofalides has won Cyprus' first-ever medal in fencing at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, currently taking place in Lagos, Nigeria.
A press release said the 33-year-old foil fencer defeated England's Oliver Strange 15-5 in the final to claim the Commonwealth title. England is the most successful nation in the history of the championships, having won 37 gold medals.
On his way to the title, Tofalides received a bye in the round of 32 before defeating Wales' Alfie Smith 15-5 in the last 16. He then overcame India's Bibish Kathiresan 15-7 in the quarter-finals and India's Manoj Patel in the semi-finals to book his place in the final.
Following his victory, Tofalides described the achievement as the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance.
"It is difficult to put into words what this moment means to me. After so many years of training, sacrifices, difficult moments and disappointments, but also persistence, I am incredibly proud to call myself Commonwealth Champion. Standing on the top step of the podium, hearing the national anthem and seeing the Cyprus flag raised is something I will never forget. Representing Cyprus means much more to me than sport", he said.
He added that the medal belongs not only to him but also to his family, teammates and everyone who supported him throughout his journey. He also thanked the Cyprus Sports Organisation, the Cyprus Olympic Committee, the Cyprus Fencing Federation, Allwyn, ISX Financial and the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Solidarity programme for their support.
The historic triumph comes after Tofalides became the first Cypriot fencer to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Having represented Cyprus since 2016, he had set himself the goal of winning international medals for the country. His next target is the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games.
