Sabre, Team, Women

It was no surprise that top-seeded nations Russia and Ukraine met in the final of the women’s sabre team competition in a repeat of the 2015 World Championship final. The Russian team consisting of individual gold and silver medalists Yana Yegoryan and Sofiya Velikaya, quarter-finalist Yekaterina Dyachenko and substitute Yuliya Gavrilova had a tough time in the semi-final before beating the United States 45–42. The most conspicuous athlete in this match was American Ibtihaj Muhammad, who’s 10–4 against Dyachenko in the seventh period put them in the lead for the only time in the contest. But after two more periods, Russia secured victory and advanced to the final. Muhammad also made headlines because she was the first American Olympian in any sport wearing the Muslim women’s traditional veil, a hijab, in competition.

In the second semi-final, Ukraine outscored Italy by the same score, 45–42, with the lead changing hands several times. In the final, however, Ukraine who had won the only previous women’s team sabre gold medal when it was held at Beijing in 2008, was no match in a 30–45 defeat loss to Russia. The Russian team lost only one of nine bouts in the final. They caused a stir when they dedicated their victory to the Russian athletes banned from competing in Rio following doping allegations.

The US women won the bronze medal with an equally convincing 45–30 scoreline against Italy, and with it won the first women’s fencing medal for the United States in Rio. They built up a continuously growing lead, and like the Russians lost only one bout. Veteran and two times individual Olympic Champion Mariel Zagunis secured the medal-winning hit.