Over 100 athletes from 15 countries were in action at the Sport Wales National Centre, with home favourite Dimitri Coutya scooping three individual golds amidst a packed six days of action.

The Welsh Government provided funding for the event alongside The National Lottery, with the sport returning to Cardiff following a World Cup event in 2024.

Fychan even tried her hand at the sport as part of her visit and hopes bringing elite sport to Cardiff can demonstrate the possibilities to budding young athletes across Wales.

She said: “One of the things we want to do as a new government is really focus on making sport accessible to all.

“To see this level of sportsmanship, to see this standard, and see that you can play in Wales and be part of European Championships like this, is important.

“It has been inspiring to hear about the work that's been taking place in schools to ensure a lasting legacy”

Fychan was given a tour of the event by British Fencing President Pat Aiyenuro and CEO Georgina Usher before giving the sport a go herself using a SwordSeat, a low-cost piece of kit that has made the sport more accessible across the country.

The SwordSeat has been used to deliver fencing sessions by Disability Sport Wales as part of the event’s legacy efforts, which has also seen a number of workshops take place in schools across Cardiff.

Fychan added: “It is fantastic to see how inclusive fencing is as a sport and the work being done to make it accessible to all."