The Unofficial 2008 Beijing Olympics Blog

Benjamin Philip Kleibrink of Germany took gold in the Men’s Individual Foil at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, while the silver medal went to Ota Yuki of Japan in a 15-9 bout.

The bronze medal went to Italy’s Salvatore Sanzo, who scored the winner against the flow of play, disappointing China’s Zhu Jun in a two round, 15-14 bout.

In the quarterfinals, Germany’s Benjamin Kleibrink eliminated Lei Sheng of China 15-7 to advance to the semifinals, while Italian Salvatore Sanzo outscored Erwann le Pechoux of France 10-9 to secure his place in the semifinals.

Italian Andrea Cassara (World No. 3) failed to reach the semifinals, losing to World No. 9 Zhu Jun of China 15-14.

This is Kleibrink’s first Olympics, though he went into the event with a World No. 6 ranking.

Germany claimed its second Fencing gold of the evening, when reigning world champion Britta Heidemann defeated Romanian Ana Maria Branza in the final of the Women’s Individual Epee at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a 15-11 bout on August 13.

The final marks a vast progression for both athletes, with Heidemann improving on a tenth place finish at Athens in 2004, when Branza finished sixteenth.

Ildiko Mincza-Nebald of Hungary won bronze, beating hometown hero Li Na of China, also with a score of 15-11

Standings

Women’s Individual Epee

HEIDEMANN Britta                     Germany          Gold
BRANZA Ana Maria                    Romania           Silver
MINCZA-NEBALD Ildiko            Hungary           Bronze

Men’s Individual Foil

KLEIBRINK Benjamin Philip       Germany          Gold
OTA Yuki                                 Japan               Silver
SANZO Salvatore                     Italy                 Bronze

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Italian fencer Matteo Tagliariol has won gold in the final of the Men’s Individual Epee at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 10 at the Fencing Hall with a score of 15-9 against silver medalist Fabrice Jeannet of France.

The US fencing team dominated this year’s Olympics by winning  gold, silver and bronze at the Women’s Individual Sabre competition.

Mariel Zagunis managed to retain her Athens 2004 Olympic title after defeating countrymen Sada Jacobson in the gold medal bout 15-8, and 2006 world champion Becca Ward who narrowly beat her Russian rival Sofiya Velikaya 15-14 for the Bronze. The gold medal bout saw Zagunis take on teammate Jacobson to take gold.

“I’m delighted that we did so well. There have been a lot of upsets in this tournament as Sada [Jacobson] said, who’s fencing better when everyone’s fencing badly, and I couldn’t forget who I was fencing for. I’m honored to be here and be part of the sweep,” Ward said following the event.

“I just tried to treat it like any other competition. It really is a dream come true, but I’m glad it’s over. I did what I came here to do,” declared Zagunis.