August 9, 2008

USA sweeps medals in individual women's sabre

by Craig Bohnert - U.S. Olympic Committee (News Bureau - (86-10) 66626044)

The medal podium at Beijing's Fencing Hall belonged to the United States as its three entrants swept the medals in women's individual sabre competition at the 2008 Olympic Games Saturday evening.

Mariel Zagunis (Beaverton, Ore.) successfully defended the gold medal she won at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games by defeating teammate Sada Jacobson (Dunwoody, Ga.) 15-8 in the gold medal bout. Earlier, Becca Ward (Portland, Ore.) 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.