The women's team foil was one of eight fencing events on the fencing at the 1960 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event. The competition was held on 3 September 1960. 57 fencers from 12 nations competed. The winner of the tournament was the Soviet Union, followed by Hungary and Italy in third.[1]
The competition combined pool play with knockout rounds. The first round consisted of pools, with the 12 teams entered in the competition divided into 4 pools of 3 teams. The top 2 teams in each pool after a round-robin advanced. The 8 teams remaining after the pool play competed in a three-round single-elimination bracket, with a bronze medal match between the semifinal losers.
Each team match consisted of each of the four fencers on one team facing each fencer on the other team, for a maximum of 16 total bouts. An 8–8 tie would be resolved by touches received. Bouts were to 4 touches. Only as much fencing was done as was necessary to determine pool placement (in the first round) or the winning team (in the knockout rounds), so not all matches went to the full 16 bouts but instead stopped early (typically when one team had 9 bouts won).[2]
Italy defeated Venezuela, as did the Soviet Union. This eliminated Venezuela; Italy and the Soviet Union faced off to determine their placing within the group. The Soviet Union took first in the group with a win over Italy.
Romania defeated Great Britain, as did Hungary. This eliminated Great Britain; Romania and Hungary faced off to determine their placing within the group. Hungary took first in the group with a win over Romania.
The Netherlands defeated Austria, as did Germany. This eliminated Austria; the Netherlands and Germany faced off to determine their placing within the group. Germany took first in the group with a win over the Netherlands.
The United States and Poland fenced to a tie, 8 bouts to 8 and 47 touches received to 47. France defeated the United States. Poland defeated France.