The individual fencing competitions have concluded and fencers will now take the piste in the the team competitions.
The women kick things off in the epee event where Romania is the project favorite for gold after winning the European Championship in 2015 and is ranked the number one world team.
Russia is also expected to contend for gold behind the talents of top five fencers Tatyana Logunova and Violetta Kolobova.
Russia won consecutive world titles in 2013 and 2014 though they placed fifth in 2015.
China is also expected to advance far behind the talent of Xu Anqi who will look to rebound from her early exit in the women’s individual epee competition.
The U.S. is expected to be have an outside shot at contention. After winning bronze in London, sisters Courtney and Kelley Hurley will look to improve on that performance. They will be joined by Kat Holmes and alternate Katarzyna Trzopek, who makes her Olympic debut at the age of 35.
Brazil and the Ukraine will start off the action in the Table of 16 at 8am ET on August 11.