Women's Fencing Team Epee Finals
France Captures First Women's Epee Gold:
Laura FLESSEL earned her second gold medal of the Centennial Olympic Games by leading the French women's epee team to a 45-33 victory over Italy Wednesday at the Georgia World Congress Center. FLESSEL, who on Sunday won a gold in the inaugural individual epee event for women, teamed with individual silver medalist Valerie BARLOIS and Sophie MORESSE-PICHOT to win the title. FLESSEL turned the bout against the Italians around by outdueling Elisa UGA 15-8 to help the French erase a 15-10 deficit and take the lead for good at 25-23 following the fifth of nine rounds. FLESSEL accounted for 20 touches overall and sealed the victory by tagging Laura CHIESA to end the match. In the bronze medal match, Yuliya GARAYEVA of the Russian Federation tagged the right knee of Hungary's Gyoengyi SZALAY HORVATHNE to win the match 45-44, 37 seconds into sudden death. Gold: France; Silver: Italy; Bronze: Russian Federation.
``This is a major success which the team has worked towards for a very long time,'' said Sophie MORESEE-PICHOT of France after winning the first Olympic women's team epee gold medal. ``Today it has been proven that the hard work was worth it.''
Russians Overwhelm Sabre Field:
Stanislav POZDNYAKOV and the Russian Federation left no doubt as to which team would capture the men's sabre title at the Centennial Olympic Games. In a dominating performance from the opening moment to the final touch, POZDNYAKOV and the Russians dusted the rest of the Olympic field, claiming the gold medal by routing Hungary, 45-25, in the final. POZDNYAKOV, the individual gold medalist in sabre earlier, took command of the final early, outdueling Bence SZABO, 5-1, to give the Russians a 10-3 lead after two bouts. Sergey SHARIKOV, who lost to POZDNYAKOV in the individual final, and Grigoriy KIRIYENKO kept the pressure on the Hungarians throughout the bout. Russia opened the day by dominating Spain (45-34) and Italy (45-28) to reach the final. In the bronze medal match, Luigi TARANTINO staked Italy to a quick 5-1 lead which it never relinquished en route to a victory over Poland 45-37. Gold: Russian Federation; Silver: Hungary; Bronze: Italy.
``There are two reasons why we have been so good, '' said double gold medalist Stanislav POZDNYAKOV. ``First, we have an old fencing tradition and then we have been working very, very hard.''
Russia, Hungary to Duel in Final Again:
Throughout the history of sabre fencing in the Olympic Games, Hungary and the Russian Federation have stood head and shoulders above the rest of the world. Between them, they have accounted for 15 of the 20 gold medals awarded in the team event since it was introduced in Athens in 1906. So perhaps it is fitting that the two European powerhouses will meet once again Wednesday afternoon to decide the gold medal during the Centennial Olympic Games at the Georgia World Congress Center. Behind the power and aggressiveness of individual sabre gold medalist Stanislav POZDNYAKOV and bronze medalist Sergey SHARIKOV, Russia handily defeated Spain (45-34) and Italy (45-28) to reach the final. POZDNYAKOV is seeking his third Olympic gold medal, having been a member of the victorious Unified Team in the team event at the XXVth Olympiad four years ago in Barcelona in addition to his individual gold last Sunday. Hungary, paced by Jozsef NAVARETTE and Csaba KOVES, defeated Romania, 45-40, and upstart Poland, 45-33, in morning action. Poland took an early 5-1 lead before Hungary recorded 29 of the next 40 touches to take firm control of the bout. France, Spain, Romania, Germany, the United States, Canada and Korea will face off for classification. Medal Bout: RUS vs. HUN (Gold), ITA vs. POL (Bronze).
France, Italy Vie for Inauguaral Olympic Gold:
Led by individual gold and silver medalists Laura FLESSEL and Valerie BARLOIS, France rolled past Cuba, 45-35, and the Russian Federation, 45-39, Wednesday morning to move into the first-ever gold medal in women's team epee at the Centennial Olympic Games. France will face Italy after the Italians shocked top-seeded Hungary 45-32 in the semifinals. Estonia, Cuba, Germany, United States, Switzerland, Korea and Japan will compete for classification. Medal Bout: FRA vs. ITA (Gold), HUN vs. RUS (Bronze).
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