Neisser Loyola

Neisser Loyola
Personal information
Born (1998-07-28) 28 July 1998
Cienfuegos, Cuba
Sport
SportFencing
Medal record
Men's fencing
Representing  Belgium
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2022 CairoIndividual Épée
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place2026 AntonyIndividual Épée

Neisser Loyola (born 28 July 1998) is a Belgian fencer from Cuban descent. He won a bronze medal in the individual Men's épée at the 2022 World Fencing Championships in Cairo, Egypt.[1] His was only the 8th ever medal for a Belgian fencer since the first official World Fencing Championships in 1937 and the first since 1951.[2]

Thanks to a silver medal at the 2023–24 Fencing World Cup leg in Tbilisi, Georgia in March 2024, he qualified for the individual men's épée at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[3] At the Olympics, on his 26th birthday, he beat the world number one ranked Hungarian Gergely Siklósi in the 1/8 final but lost on a golden score in extra-time of the 1/4 final to the later bronze medal winner Mohamed El-Sayed.[4]

He won a bronze medal in the individual men's épée at the 2026 European Fencing Championships in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine, France.[5] It was Belgium's first medal at a European championship since 1981.[6]

Personal life

Neisser Loyola is the son of Cuban fencer Nelson Loyola Torriente, bronze medal winner for Cuba in the men's team épée event at the 2000 Summer Olympics and gold medal winner in the same discipline at the 1997 World Fencing Championships.[7] The family moved to Belgium when Nelson Loyola was appointed national coach of the Belgian fencing team.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "A Grand Success, Cairo 2022 Fencing World Championships Finish". Fédération Internationale d'Escrime. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Neisser Loyola remporte la médaille de bronze à l'épée aux championnats du monde d'escrime au Caire" [Neisser Loyola wins the bronze medal in épée at the World Fencing Championships in Cairo] (in French). RTBF. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Neisser Loyola qualifié pour les jeux olympiques" [Neisser Loyola qualified for the Olympic Games] (in French). Fédération Francophone des Cercles d'Escrime de Belgique. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Neisser Loyola réalise une brillante performance le jour de ses 26 ans" [Neisser Loyola delivers a brilliant performance on his 26th birthday] (in French). Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "ECH: Antony 2026 First Champions Crowned". European Fencing Confederation. 16 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Neisser Loyola pakt historisch EK-brons in schermen: eerste Belgische medaille sinds 1981" [Neisser Loyola claims historic European Championship bronze in fencing: first Belgian medal since 1981] (in Dutch). Sporza. 16 June 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Neisser Loyola représentera la Belgique aux JO : "Mon cœur est à moitié cubain, à moitié belge"" [Neisser Loyola will represent Belgium at the Olympics: "My heart is half Cuban, half Belgian"] (in French). RTBF. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Neisser Loyola, escrimeur de père en fils : objectif Paris 2024" (in French). RTBF. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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