Italy sweeps women's foil, Vezzali eyes Rio
Source: Agencies |
July 30, 2012, Monday
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ITALIAN women swept the Olympic medals in foil on Saturday but crowned a new queen in Elisa Di Francisca who clawed her way back in the waning seconds of regulation to land the final touch in sudden-death overtime against teammate Arianna Errigo.
Valentina Vezzali, Italy's reigning world champion, muscled past South Korea's Nam Hyun-hee to win bronze at London's ExCeL Centre.
In an amazing display of discipline and focus she snatched the 13-12 victory from a seemingly insurmountable deficit that had the world's greatest female foilist seconds from defeat, down by four points only to come back and win.
It was some consolation for Vezzali, who had been chasing her fourth consecutive individual Olympic gold medal after carrying the flag for her nation into London's Olympic Stadium the night before.
The 38-year-old has now won 29 Olympic and world championship medals and has her sights on the record of 39 set by countryman Edoardo Mangiarotti, who died in May aged 93. He won 13 Olympic medals between 1936-60.
Errigo had defeated Vezzali in the semifinals to face Di Francisca, who took silver at the 2011 worlds after finishing first in 2010. "I was afraid of winning," Di Francisca said. "I did not fence very well, but I maintained good control. (Errigo) is very strong and I am born a tiger but had to put that under control."
Di Francisca won the bout 12-11 in sudden-death overtime after the three minutes of the third period had elapsed. Errigo had pulled ahead 11-8 with 36 seconds to go in regulation.
While she kept control, Di Francisca did let the tiger slip its leash, making a series of direct attacks to take what is called the "right of way" in fencing and landing her touches, or points, on the valid target which is the torso.
Earlier, Errigo ended Vezzali's quest for a record fourth gold, after what is already an unprecedented three straight golds plus a silver in her first Olympiad in Atlanta, Georgia. Their semifinal bout, filled with strategic footwork, shaking fists and primal screams, demonstrated the attacking style of Errigo against Vezzali's calculated steps and counter-attacking technique.
It was a bitter pill for Nam, seeded No. 1, as she lost to Vezzali in Beijing to take silver and was shut out of a medal again by the Italian.
Ever the competitor, Vezzali said there was a problem (in only winning bronze) that she wanted to resolve in 2016, laying down the gauntlet to all that she is still a force to reckon with as she eyes her sixth Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Valentina Vezzali, Italy's reigning world champion, muscled past South Korea's Nam Hyun-hee to win bronze at London's ExCeL Centre.
In an amazing display of discipline and focus she snatched the 13-12 victory from a seemingly insurmountable deficit that had the world's greatest female foilist seconds from defeat, down by four points only to come back and win.
It was some consolation for Vezzali, who had been chasing her fourth consecutive individual Olympic gold medal after carrying the flag for her nation into London's Olympic Stadium the night before.
The 38-year-old has now won 29 Olympic and world championship medals and has her sights on the record of 39 set by countryman Edoardo Mangiarotti, who died in May aged 93. He won 13 Olympic medals between 1936-60.
Errigo had defeated Vezzali in the semifinals to face Di Francisca, who took silver at the 2011 worlds after finishing first in 2010. "I was afraid of winning," Di Francisca said. "I did not fence very well, but I maintained good control. (Errigo) is very strong and I am born a tiger but had to put that under control."
Di Francisca won the bout 12-11 in sudden-death overtime after the three minutes of the third period had elapsed. Errigo had pulled ahead 11-8 with 36 seconds to go in regulation.
While she kept control, Di Francisca did let the tiger slip its leash, making a series of direct attacks to take what is called the "right of way" in fencing and landing her touches, or points, on the valid target which is the torso.
Earlier, Errigo ended Vezzali's quest for a record fourth gold, after what is already an unprecedented three straight golds plus a silver in her first Olympiad in Atlanta, Georgia. Their semifinal bout, filled with strategic footwork, shaking fists and primal screams, demonstrated the attacking style of Errigo against Vezzali's calculated steps and counter-attacking technique.
It was a bitter pill for Nam, seeded No. 1, as she lost to Vezzali in Beijing to take silver and was shut out of a medal again by the Italian.
Ever the competitor, Vezzali said there was a problem (in only winning bronze) that she wanted to resolve in 2016, laying down the gauntlet to all that she is still a force to reckon with as she eyes her sixth Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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