U.S. Sweeps Fencing Medals
The United States swept all three medals in women's sabre Saturday at the Fencing Hall.
Mariel Zagunis defended the gold medal she won at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games by defeating teammate Sada Jacobson, 15-8, in the gold medal bout.
Earlier, Becca Ward assured the sweep by coming back from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Russia's Sofiya Velikaya, 15-14, and claim the bronze medal.
It marks the first time a country has swept the medals in an individual fencing event since Germany did it in women's foil at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
By
Tracee Hamilton
|
August 9, 2008; 8:32 AM ET
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Posted by: Mike | August 9, 2008 9:03 AM | Report abuse
I'm glad this news story got coverage. As a fencer, it saddened me to see that these medal events, the first in which the US obtained any medals, did not receive any television coverage. While I understand that in America, fencing is a sport deemed "lower" than soccer, volleyball, and basketball (the sports on in favor of fencing), I am still surprised that these were aired over a chance to sweep the podium. I suppose it's all about the money. Even so, I am still glad to see this article posted here.
Posted by: GRH | August 9, 2008 9:08 AM | Report abuse
GREAT results. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see a little of it on TV tonight.
Posted by: Charlie | August 9, 2008 9:28 AM | Report abuse
Even though NBC didn't put it on TV, it was viewable live on their website. So that's totally new. Quiet exacting if I say so myself.
Posted by: Ben | August 9, 2008 9:50 AM | Report abuse
Yes, bravo Yankee blade girls.
I'm not particularly a fencing fan, but it's a good spectator sport - would have liked to see some more coverage on the tube.
Posted by: John | August 9, 2008 10:24 AM | Report abuse
This I've got to see...spread the word we want to see the USA women cutting and parrying their way to glory in the team event. A USA sweep in fencing...touche European elite! Now if only the USA men fencers could even win one medal, it would be amazing.
Anbody know why USA is so strong in Women's sabre and suck at foil and epee? And why the men still suck at foil, sabre and epee?
Posted by: oddjob | August 9, 2008 11:29 AM | Report abuse
Actually, I got to watch Sada defeat someone from the Ukraine last night at around 2:30am or so. So the events are technically on TV, just not necessarily when people are bound to be watching...
Posted by: div | August 9, 2008 12:01 PM | Report abuse
To OddJob,
The US is strong in Women's Saber because it is new. The Europeans start kids off at 5 in the other weapons, and historically have stomped the US in fencing, where individuals usually start in university, and often as a secondary sport. Women have always fenced foil, and women’s competitions in Epee have been around for about 20 years. Up until about 10 years ago, however, Saber was a male-only weapon. With title 9, many men’s university fencing programs have been dropped, but the women’s programs have flourished. Hopefully, like the success of the US women’s soccer team, this victory may increase US interest in fencing as a whole.
Posted by: Fencing in Fallujah | August 9, 2008 1:07 PM | Report abuse
go USA
Posted by: dt | August 9, 2008 1:29 PM | Report abuse
Actually, women have been competitively fencing sabre in the US since the 70s. I am female and competed in all three weapons in the Mid-Atlantic region in the late 70s with sabre as my primary weapon. This is a terrific sport and is even more fun to do than watch.
Posted by: wvfencer | August 10, 2008 12:20 PM | Report abuse
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Look for more of the same in the team event later in the week. Amazing performance by the US women.