20 March 2010 - Evdokia Gretchichnikova (RUS) has improved on her bronze medal in World Cup #1 to claim gold in the Women’s Event at World Cup #2 in Cairo, Egypt. In the process she beat World #2 and 2009 World Cup Final winner Donata Rimsaite (LTU) and Egyptian powerhouse and World #3 Aya Medany who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The event started in the fencing hall where Gretchichnikova continued her strong fencing form from Mexico to lead from start to finish with 25 victories and 5 defeats. However Rimsaite slowly improved her form throughout the day to join Gretchichnikova as event winner on 25 victories and 1024 points. Egypt’s medal hopeful Medany was back in 3rd position with 24 victories and 10 defeats. Top 20 athlete Sarlota Kovacs (HUN) was missing due to injury.

Next was the swimming event which was held in perfect sunny conditions here in Cairo. Elodia Clouvel (FRA) repeated her impressive swimming form from the qualification to easily record the fastest time of 2:09.8 which moved her to from 28th to 10th overall. Fencing’s joint winner’s Gretchichnikova and Rimsaite’s swims were only good enough for 22nd and 23rd positions respectively. This meant they dropped down the leaders board with Medany seizing the opportunity with a solid 5th place in the swim to move into pole position.

The riding event was conducted on a very tricky course. Top athlete Katy Livingston (GBR) had a nightmare time on her horse and did not finish the course, ruining her chances of a podium position. Another British athlete Katy Burke had more luck on the horse and was one of 6 athletes to score a perfect 1200 which shot her above Medany on the leader board. Medany had an accident before while warming up for the riding which left her with a bleeding nose. This contributed to a poor ride for Medany finishing 23rd.

Burke’s strong ride gave her a 6 second advantage over Egyptian Superstar Medany. Leila Gyenesei started in 3rd, 10 seconds behind the leader and Rimsaite a further 7 seconds behind. Britain’s Katy Burke failed to capitalise on her 6 second advantage at the start of the Combined Event with to Gyenesei having a perfect shoot to grab the lead, she was closely followed by Burke and Medany. Rimsaite showed no ill effects of her leg injury which has stopped her from training the past 2 months by displaying blistering speed to catch the leading pack coming into the second shoot. This shoot was again dominated by Gyenesei who again had a perfect shoot and left first with Rimsaite and Russia’s Gretchichnikova not too far behind. Again Rimsaite had a strong run to start the final shoot in 1st. However it was Gretchichnikova who held her nerve to leave the shoot 1st and create a solid lead going into the last running leg. She was never troubled in the run and grabbed gold from Rimsate who had a poor final shoot and had to settle for silver and the great Egyptian hope Aya Medany thrilling the locals to pick up the bronze.

The medals were presented UIPM President Dr h.c. Klaus Schormann and the African Confederation President and UIPM Executive Board Member, Mr. Sameh Guemeih.

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