The competition in its early years was named the European Championships (Championnats d'Europe), and the initial participants were members of the fencing federations of the FIE.

[citation needed] Since 1921, the FIE championships have occurred annually except for an interruption forced by World War II from 1939 to 1946, and in some of the years when the Summer Olympics are held.

The fencing competitions at the Summer Olympics have served as the World Championships of the year for the relevant events.

The FIE reluctantly agreed to this condition, and has satisfied it by not contesting two of the team events at the Olympics but holding World Championships for them instead during those years.

[citation needed] Beginning in 1987, the FIE began sanctioning an annual competition called the Cadet World Championships.

[citation needed] Beginning in 1997, the FIE began sanctioning an annual competition called the Veteran World Championships.

This counts the medals from the World Championships since 1921, and does not include the results of the fencing competitions at the Summer Olympics.