They became the new European champions in the women’s team epee first with victory over top ranked- and title-holders – Ukraine.

The gold medal match was incredibly close with the difference between the two sides never being more than three points.

Ukraine led for the first half of the new 30-point format, formed of six relays. Yevheniia Breus, Mariia Ivanchyk and Olena Fedota Isaieva each delivered wins in their individual ties with Kinga Drozdz, Karolina Strawinska and Marta Fidrych.

It was Strawinska who was the hero for Poland, changing the tide against Fedota-Isaieva, landing seven hits to hand Drozdz a two-point lead for her face-off with Ivanchyk.

Drozdz then added a further five to increase Poland’s lead by one heading into the final match between Fidrych and Breus.

Breus was determined to claim the gold, loading pressure onto her Polish opponent. But Fidrych held her nerve, managing to register the five-points she needed to take her team over the line and leave Ukraine with silver.

“It was a tough battle for sure but I’ so proud of my team because we have a lot of stress today and we can manage it. We are so happy and I think everyone is proud of us,” Drozdz said.

Fidrych commented: “My team is very special, everyone knows their job and we have one goal and everybody on the piste gives everything. I am very proud to be part of this team and I would never change it.”

France’s Clemence Delavoipiere, Cecile Demaude, Margot Fourmond and Enora Tarju were the bronze medallists.

Poland triumphed again later in the day, this time in their nationally favoured weapon in the mixed team sabre also featuring an exciting new format to 20 points.

Adrian Castro, Drozdz, Strawinska and Rafal Ziomek’s victory never looked in doubt against France. They led from the start and never looked back.

Delavoipiere, Fourmand, Serge Robin and Laurent Vadon can however be satisfied with their silver and France’s second medal of the day.

Ukraine achieved a 100 per cent podium record from Thursday with their bronze. Breus and Fedota-Isaieva joined forces with Andrii Demchuk and Dmytro Serozhenko to win against Great Britain.

Ukraine topped the podium in the men’s team epee following a nervy end to their match against a French men’s team on the rise.

France began the match strong with Mathias Panisset landing five hits without reply from Oleksii Zakusylov. Ukraine seemed unsettled by one of their best epee fencers coming-up against such a strong opponent. However Anton Datsko did narrow the gap in the second match against Thomas Tachdjian, but France were still six points ahead.

Artem Manko then turned on the style against Quentin Fernandez-Anssoux, registering nine hits to France’s five to bring his team back to within two points.

Tachdjian managed to maintain France’s lead but Mathias Panisset was no match for Manko in the penultimate bout with Ukraine taking the lead, setting up the final clash.

It was then up to Zakusylov to bounce back from the shock of his first round clash against Fernandez-Anssoux. He was able to grab the gold for Ukraine and retain their European title.

“It’s a great win for us but sadly for us the men’s team epee and team foil are not in the Paralympics right now. But still, it’s a great win to say we won the last European champions and to say we are still there and we are still in the fight and it’s great motivation to go forward,” Manko said.

“It was really tense, so when we started losing the first bout we just lost a bit of our morale but then we came back on top but it’s great for us to come back like that.”

With their three medals in one day, Ukraine sit on top of the medals table with three gold, three silver and a bronze at the halfway point of Cardiff 2026.

Germany’s Balwinder Cheema, Dimitrij Rout, Maurice Schmidt and Felix Schrader claimed third after a hearty display against Poland in the bronze medal match.

The Cardiff 2026 European Championships continue on Friday with the women’s epee and men’s sabre category A and B.

More than 130 athletes from 14 countries are in the Welsh capital for the competition, which also marks the start of the qualification pathway for the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.