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South Africa has announced a formidable 36-strong squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Federation Championships in Lagos, underlining its reputation as one of Africa’s fencing powers.
The core of the team are two experienced épée specialists: Sergey Losevskiy and Alexandra Lancaster. The two competed at the African Championships in Lagos last year and are now back at the helm.
Losevskiy, who fenced for Russia before committing to South Africa, has been a mainstay of the men’s épée squad. Based at TFS Johannesburg/Blues Fencing Club, he has captained the national team through major continental tournaments, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership.
Lancaster, meanwhile, stands as a major figure in the women’s squad. A silver medalist at the African Senior Championships, she etched her name in history as the first South African female épéeist to surpass the pool stages at the Senior World Championships. His presence indicates ambition and resilience in a team that wants to achieve achievements.
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For Louise Lombard, President of the South African Fencing Federation, the squad represents a mix of promise and maturity.
“We have a mostly young squad, and several athletes made their international debut in Lagos,” he explained. “Several development fencers from rural areas will be traveling overseas for the first time, thanks to funding from the club. At the same time, our senior athletes—who have come close to medaling in previous Commonwealth competitions—bring valuable experience. This is a squad made up of a wide range of ages and weapons, and has great potential,” said Lombard, who is also the team manager.
The composition of the team reflects this diversity: six fencers will compete in the veteran épée event, while eleven players will compete in the senior épée category, divided between six men and five women. Four athletes will take part in the foil event. In the U-23 division, South Africa will field eight épéeists, four foilists and two sabreurs.
Having hosted the last Commonwealth Junior Fencing Championships, South Africa arrived in Lagos with momentum. The youth team’s success has set the stage, and now the senior squad looks to consolidate that progress with a strong showing on the continental stage.
