Valentina Vezzali, one of the greatest fencers in history, retired from the sport in near-fairytale style in the brand-new Olympic fencing venue in Rio de Janeiro this week. At the women's foil team world championships – which doubled as the Olympic test event – Vezzali and her Italian team-mates fell at the final hurdle, losing out to powerful Russian opposition.

The 42-year-old missed out on qualification for the individual foil at Rio 2016. Because the International Fencing Federation (FIE) rotates the team events which will participate in the Olympic Games, there will be no women's team foil in the 2016 Olympic Games and no opportunity for Vezzali to add to her medal haul.

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In her long career, Vezzali has participated in five Olympic Games and won six OIympic golds as well as one silver and two bronzes. At the team world championships for women's foil in Rio she claimed one final silver. There was to be no 17th world title for Vezzali as the Russian team, anchored by world no. 2 Inna Deriglazova, defeated the Italians 45-39 at Carioca Arena 3 on Tuesday (26 April). France beat the Republic of Korea to bronze.

“Fencing has been my life,” Vezzali said. “My foil has been with me since I was a little more than six years old, and together we've shared emotions, disappointments, medals, misfortunes, and tears of both joy and anger.”

“In life, after every end there is always a new beginning. Today, I don't see a sunset, but rather a sunrise of new matches to be faced ... and won”

Valentina Vezzali, individual Olympic gold at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008

Russia's male fencers also triumphed in Rio. On Wednesday, the men's sabre team defeated Hungary for gold, with Romania beating Iran to the bronze medal.

Hungarian fencer Andras Szatmari (right) lunges against Russian Nikolay Kovalev in the gold medal match of the men's team sabre event (Photo: Getty Images/FIE)

As with the women's team foil event, the men's team sabre will not be included in Rio 2016 because of the rotation system.

"We didn't have any problems. Now, 100 days from the Games, my aim is to train hard and come here in good form. If I win another medal I will be very happy"

Aron Szilagyi, Olympic gold for Hungary in individual sabre at London 2012

The X-Factor

The test event, which finished on Wednesday (27 April), featured the new X-shaped formation for the pistes, an innovation in the sport which has never been used in Olympic fencing before. It is designed to provide an improved view of the action for the spectators. Thanks to the cross shape, four matches can take place at the same time.

Carl Borack, who competed at Munich 1972 and is now head of the USA fencing team, said he was pleased with the venue.

“The arena is very nice. There are just a few details to be looked at, like the big screen, which needs to be higher. But in general it's sensational”

Carl Borack, chef de mission of USA fencing team

Rodrigo Garcia, director of sports at Rio 2016, said the FIE was satisfied with the venue and with the equipment used, such as the electronic scoring system. For the Olympic Games the lighting will be adjusted, he added. “We still have to work on visual communications and on some temporary structures,” he said. “But the physical structure of the venue is ready and has been approved.”

Hilary Philbin, the FIE representative at the test event, said the competition was an important opportunity for local organisers, fencing officials and volunteers to get to know each other. “It was very important for the FIE to meet the team in Rio,” she said. “Everyone has worked hard and done a fantastic job.”