Ottawa - May 28, 2000 - Canadian fencer Sherraine Schalm (Brooks, Alberta) won the Gold medal at the Women's Epee Senior World Cup Event in Spain on Sunday.  Schalm is a member of the Excalibur Fencing Club in Ottawa. 

It is the first time a Canadian woman wins a World Cup event in any fencing weapon. Only Jean-Marc Chouinard reached a similar level in men's epee.

On the way to the Gold medal Schalm won over the German Claudia Bokel in the final bout, by 15 touches to 13. She had previously defeated the Cuban Esteri in the round of 16, then the Dutch fencer Tol in the quarter-finals, and the Spaniard Castillejo in semi-final.

"I succeeded in using my whole technical palette, which allowed me to defeat four opponents with very different styles" declared Sherraine. "I surprised everyone, including the organisers who did not even have the Canadian National Anthem on hand to play at the medal ceremony."

Her coach, Manuel Guittet, who will be with her at the Sydney Olympic Games thinks that: "This excellent result will give her all her confidence back, after a mixed season. A gold medal at the Olympic Games is now very realistic, even if Sherraine will not be the favorite in Sydney."

Schalm will compete in another World Cup Event in Welkenraedt, Belgium, next weekend, missing the Canadian Championships which will take place at the same time in Quebec City.

She will then come back in Ottawa to train for the summer in order to achieve her Olympic dream.

Information: Manuel Guittet 613-744-0119