Evann Jean Abba Girault (born 25 August 2004) is a French-Nigerien sabre fencer. He qualified to represent Niger at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Girault was born on 25 August 2004 in Orléans, France, to a French father and Nigerien mother. He holds dual citizenship. He grew up in Orléans and competed in gymnastics as a youth for seven or eight years. His brother was a fencer, and after watching him participate at various events, he decided to try out the sport himself.[1] He joined the fencing club in 2015.[2]
Girault competes in sabre fencing events and is right-handed.[3] In addition to competing at tournaments in France, he started competing internationally in 2021, choosing to represent Niger.[1] He was ranked 119th globally in the junior rankings for the 2021–22 season and competed at several events with his brother.[1] [3] He placed 8th at the African Senior Championships in 2022 and then won silver at the African Junior Championships in 2023, while being 5th at the World Junior Championships.[1] He was ranked 13th by the FIE globally for juniors for the 2022–23 season and ranked 43rd in the seniors category for that year.[3]
Girault studies at the University of Orléans, where he won the French university national championship in 2023.[4] He represented Niger at the Fencing World Cup in November 2023 and later won the silver medal at the African Cadet and Juniors Fencing Championship in March 2023.[5] [6] By February 2024, he was ranked 8th in the global junior rankings and 41st in the senior rankings.[5] He participated at the African Olympic qualifying tournament in April 2024 and defeated Algerian Zacharia Bounachada in the final by a score of 15–10, securing a spot at the 2024 Summer Olympics representing Niger.[7] He became the first Nigerien to qualify for the Olympics in fencing.[6] [7]