Competition took place in the Fencing Hall at the Helliniko Olympic Complex on August 17.

Wang Lei's silver was China's first medal in the men's individual épée.

Defending champion Pavel Kolobkov earned bronze, finishing a set of three different-colored Olympic medals in the event (silver in 1992, gold in 2000).

The competition continued to use the entirely single-elimination (with bronze medal match) format introduced in 1996.

The remaining field of 32 fencers competed in a single-elimination tournament to determine the medal winners.