1. Life
Cécilia Berder's journey into the world of fencing began in her childhood, driven by her parents' encouragement towards sports and her own energetic disposition. She also pursued higher education, demonstrating a commitment to both her athletic and academic development.
1.1. Early Life
Born in Morlaix, France, in 1989, Cécilia Berder spent her formative years in the nearby city of Quimper. As a highly energetic child, her parents encouraged her to participate in sports. Her initial preference was for rock climbing, but the class was full. This led her to choose fencing at the Escrime Quimper Cornouaille club instead. She first attempted foil, which is traditionally used for teaching, but found it uninteresting. Her coach, Serge Larher, then suggested she try sabre, despite the class being predominantly male, a discipline she found more captivating and which marked the beginning of her successful career in sabre fencing.
1.2. Education
After completing her Baccalauréat, Berder joined a center for promising young athletes in Orléans, where she further developed her fencing skills alongside notable fencers such as Anne-Lise Touya and Léonore Perrus. Beyond her athletic career, Berder also pursued academic endeavors, undertaking a master's degree in journalism at the École supérieure de journalisme de Paris.
2. Major Activities and Achievements
Cécilia Berder's career in fencing has been marked by a steady progression from junior success to significant achievements on the international senior stage, including Olympic medals, World Championship titles, and consistent performances in the World Cup and Grand Prix circuits.
2.1. Junior Career
Berder achieved early international success in her junior career. In 2007, she secured a bronze medal at the Junior European Fencing Championships held in Prague.
2.2. Senior Career
Berder's senior career saw her rise through the ranks to become one of France's top sabre fencers, competing consistently at the highest levels of international competition. In 2008, she was selected as a reserve for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and also won her first national senior title. At the 2009 World Fencing Championships in Antalya, she earned her first international senior podium finish with a team silver medal, after the French team was defeated by Ukraine in the final. The following season, Berder achieved her first podium finish in the Fencing World Cup circuit, securing a bronze medal at the Orléans Grand Prix, an event hosted by her own club. At the 2010 World Fencing Championships in Paris, France, the team again faced Ukraine, losing in the semi-finals. However, they went on to win the bronze medal by defeating the United States, whose team was weakened by the injury withdrawal of Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis. In 2011, Berder reached the final of the Orléans Grand Prix, where she was defeated by Zagunis.
During the 2013-14 season, Berder claimed her first World Cup title in Antalya, notably defeating the reigning Olympic champion Kim Ji-yeon en route to victory. She also earned her first medal at the European Fencing Championships with a team silver in Strasbourg. At the 2014 World Fencing Championships in Kazan, she reached the table of 16, her personal best individual performance at the time, before being stopped by Zagunis. In the team event, France defeated Hungary, then host Russia and Italy, to reach the final against the United States. France maintained a strong position for most of the match, leading 20-15 at one stage, but ultimately lost 39-45. Berder concluded the season ranked 16th in the world, a personal best. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she advanced past Ibtihaj Muhammad in the second round.
2.2.1. Olympic Games
Berder has participated in two Olympic Games, securing a silver medal in the team event.
| Year | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tokyo, Japan | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
2.2.2. World Championships
Cécilia Berder has achieved significant success at the World Championships, including a team gold medal and multiple silver and bronze medals.
| Year | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Antalya, Turkey | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2010 | Paris, France | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2014 | Kazan, Russia | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2015 | Moscow, Russia | Individual Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2017 | Leipzig, Germany | Individual Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2017 | Leipzig, Germany | Team Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2018 | Wuxi, China | Team Women's Sabre | 1st |
| 2019 | Budapest, Hungary | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
2.2.3. European Championships
Berder has consistently medaled at the European Championships in both individual and team sabre events.
| Year | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Team Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2014 | Strasbourg, France | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2015 | Montreux, Switzerland | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2016 | Toruń, Poland | Team Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2017 | Tbilisi, Georgia | Team Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2018 | Novi Sad, Serbia | Individual Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2018 | Novi Sad, Serbia | Team Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2019 | Düsseldorf, Germany | Team Women's Sabre | 3rd |
2.2.4. World Cup and Grand Prix
Berder has a strong record in the Fencing World Cup and Grand Prix circuits, securing multiple individual titles and podium finishes.
| Date | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-02-05 | Orléans, France | Individual Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2011-02-11 | Orléans, France | Individual Women's Sabre | 2nd |
| 2016-12-16 | Cancún, Mexico | Individual Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2017-03-31 | Seoul, South Korea | Individual Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2017-12-15 | Cancún, Mexico | Individual Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| 2019-02-22 | Cairo, Egypt | Individual Women's Sabre | 3rd |
| Date | Location | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-03-14 | Antalya, Turkey | Individual Women's Sabre | 1st |
| 2017-01-27 | New York, New York | Individual Women's Sabre | 1st |
| 2019-01-25 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Individual Women's Sabre | 1st |
| 2021-03-12 | Budapest, Hungary | Individual Women's Sabre | 2nd |
3. Personal Life
Beyond her fencing career, Cécilia Berder has pursued academic interests, notably undertaking a master's degree in journalism. Public information regarding other aspects of her personal life remains limited.
4. Assessment and Legacy
Cécilia Berder is recognized as a highly accomplished French sabre fencer, with a career spanning over a decade at the elite level. Her achievements, including an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship gold, and numerous other international medals, solidify her position as a significant figure in French and international fencing. Her consistent performance and dedication have made her a role model in the sport.