Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's épée

Olympic fencing event

The men's épée was one of four fencing events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held from 17 to 24 July 1908 at the Franco British Exhibition fencing grounds. The medals were swept by the French fencers, who also took the gold medal in the team épée event. Gaston Alibert was the gold medalist, with Alexandre Lippmann taking silver and Eugene Olivier bronze. Officially, it was the second consecutive medal sweep in the event, though two of the three "Cuban" fencers who medaled in 1904 were actually American.

This was the third appearance of the event, which was not held at the first Games in 1896 (with only foil and sabre events held) but has been held at every Summer Olympics since 1900. None of the five fencers from 1904 returned. Bohemia, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, and Sweden each made their debut in the event. Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy each appeared for the second time, matching Cuba and the United States (both absent for the first time) for most among nations.

The competition was held over four rounds. In each round, each pool held a round robin, with bouts to 1 touch. Double touches counted as touches against both fencers. Barrages were used as necessary to determine the advancing fencers. First round: 13 pools of between 5 and 8 fencers each. The 3 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the second round. Second round: 8 pools of 5 fencers each (except one had only 4). The 2 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the semifinals. Semifinals: 2 pools of 8 fencers each. The 4 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the final. Final: 1 pool of 8 fencers.

The first round was conducted in round robin format, to one touch. Pool sizes ranged from 5 to 8 fencers. Double touches counted against both fencers. The three contestants who had been struck the fewest times advanced.

Seven of the eight second round pools had 5 fencers, with the eighth having only 4. 2 advanced to the semifinals from each pool.

There were two semifinals, each of 8 fencers. The top 4 in each advanced to the final.