Nearly 170 athletes from 23 countries will make the journey for the third World Cup of 2026. They have an eye on the regional Championships, when qualification for the Paralympics start, and June’s junior World Championships. 

Here are just some of the storylines to follow when you watch live at parafencing.org. 

America’s finest meets Bradenton World Cup

Ellen Geddes is one of the USA’s most successful Para fencers at World Cups and is also the regional title holder in the women’s foil category B.  Geddes competes in foil and epee and has represented her country at two Paralympic Games – Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 – achieving top 10 finishes in both. 

Scott Rodgers is another face to look out for at the Bradenton World Cup, on and off the piste. Rodgers competed at two Paralympic Games in Athens and Beijing before taking a 14-year-hiatus from competing, returning in 2022 with a home Paralympics in his sights. But here’s the twist – in 2025, Rodgers was elected the Chair of the Board of Directors at USA Fencing, becoming the first athlete to hold the position. 

Other notable characters in the US team include Garrett Schoonover who can also be found singing opera, and Jataya Taylor who was instrumental in starting the Para fencing in the African country of Namibia. 

Next generation 

A relative newcomer to wheelchair fencing, French 20-year-old Thomas Tachdijan, is on the road to the Under 23s World Championships in Mersin, Türkiye. He arrives in Bradenton fresh from two podium finishes in the men’s epee and foil category B at the recent Satellite Tournament in Orange, France. 

Also representing the legacy of a home Paralympics at Paris 2024, Quentin Fernandez-Anssoux also excelled in Orange. The 22-year-old will be aiming to add to his silver and bronze in foil and epee, respectively, at the Under 23s in Mersin and Bradenton is his last stop. 

Kenya to make international debut 

Kenya will make history in Bradenton by making their international debut, becoming the latest African country to join the global Para fencing movement. 

Three athletes are scheduled for international classification and are entered in foil and epee events. 

This notable progress in Kenya is being shared across the continent with the latest Wheelchair Fencing Academy set to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, in August.  

Guissone off to a flyer 

Brazil’s Tokyo 2020 epeee silver medallist Jovane Guissone has enjoyed an exceptional start to his 2026 campaign, bagging himself three podium finishes from two World Cups in the men’s epee and foil category B. 

 That’s his best start to a season since 2022. In October, Guissone will aim to defend his Americas titles in the foil and epee, a competition which will also mark the start of his qualification pathway for LA 2028. 

The Bradenton 2026 Para Fencing World Cup will be broadcast live between 27-30 May on World Para Fencing’s website. Expert commentary will be delivered by former Para fencer Lauryn DeLuca throughout, with special guests.