Aris Kiayias won bronze in the foil at the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, giving Cyprus its fourth medal of the Games and its first ever Youth Olympic medal in fencing.
Kiayias beat Britain’s Mohammed Belbouab 15-14 in the bronze medal bout. He led 8-2 before Belbouab came back to lead 13-9 and then 14-12, but Kiayias scored the last three points to win.
He had won five of his six pool bouts before beating Mali’s Thierno Hady Thiam 15-0 in the round of 16 and Denmark’s Hannibal Lykke Kofoed 15-6 in the quarter-finals. He lost his semi-final 15-10 to Hong Kong’s Ho Shing Him Harris.
Kiayias, who was born and lives in the United States, is of Cypriot descent through his father. He is coached by Lauria Lorenz.
His bronze follows Marina Hadjikosta’s gold in the discus and two bronzes for swimmer Andrew Markus Lagoutis.
