French fencers Sara Balzer and Manon Apithy-Brunet have successfully advanced to the round of 16 at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Balzer, the world number one, defeated Tunisia's Yasmine Daghfous with a score of 15-9, while Apithy-Brunet, ranked third, battled to a 15-12 victory against Kazakhstan's Aigerim Sarybay.

Both athletes are seen as strong contenders for the gold medal, with Balzer aiming for her first individual Olympic medal after winning silver in the team event at Tokyo 2021. The competition is heating up as the French team looks to capitalize on their home advantage, currently sitting fourth in the overall medal standings.

The excitement continues as they prepare for the next rounds in the prestigious Grand Palais.