U.S. women sweep in Olympic fencing
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BEIJING -- After winning a fencing gold medal for the first time in 100 years four years ago in
Athens, the United States has become a world power, at least in the women’s saber competition.
When Becca Ward of Beaverton, Ore., beat Russia’s Sofiya Velikaya, 15-14, to win the bronze medal Saturday, that guaranteed the U.S. women a 1-2-3 finish.
Mariel Zagunis of Beaverton, Ore., subsequently defended the gold medal she won in the event in Athens with a 15-8 victory over Sada Jacobson of Dunwoody, Ga.
Jacobson advanced to the final earlier Saturday by beating Velikaya, 15-11. The Russian was ahead, 8-5, before Jacobson went on a 10-3 run. Zagunis advanced to the final with a 15-11 win over Ward.
Ward’s victory in the third-place match came on a dramatic sudden-death point, the result decided only after officials viewed instant replay and awarded it to the American.
The result Saturday bodes well for the U.S. women in the upcoming team saber competition.
-- Randy Harvey
photo of Becca Ward celebrating her bronze medal over Russia’s Sofiya Velikaya in the women’s individual sabre competition Saturday by Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times