London-based UK-Cypriot Alex Tofalides is the sole representative of Cyprus at the European Fencing Championships, which begin on Monday, in Genoa, Italy.

Tofalides, 32, will compete in the Foil category, which includes 77 participants. The competition will start with preliminary group rounds before moving on to the knockout stage, beginning with the Round of 64.

This is Tofalides’ first major event since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he won his opening bout and advanced to the Round of 32. He is Cyprus’ first Olympic fencer.

Before departing for Genoa, Tofalides made the following statement: “I’m very excited to be back in action. It’s the first major event since the Olympic Games, and I’ll be competing against some of the very best – Olympic and world medallists, and over 50% of the current top 10 fencers in the world. Training has been going well. Since Paris, I’ve been adapting and refining my strategies, and this event marks my first real test of the new Olympic cycle.

“I’ve just returned from a two-week training camp in Italy, where I sparred with elite fencers from around the globe. It gave me a real flavour of the intensity I’ll face next week. Of course, nothing truly replicates competition, but I feel sharpened and ready.

I’ll be travelling with key members of my Olympic team – Raffi Rhys Pollitt, who supports me as both video analyst and sparring partner, and Maria Goriup, my long-time physio. My goal is to give everything – to fight for every point, defeat every opponent in front of me, and proudly represent Cyprus, as always, with the flag on my mask.”