TOKYO: Lee Kiefer won the third gold medal for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics and the third fencing gold in the country’s history by beating defending champion Inna Deriglazova of Russia 15-13 in the women’s foil final.

Mariel Zagunis is the only other US fencer to earn gold, winning the sabre events at the 2004 and 2008 Games.

Kiefer ripped off her mask after the final point and shouted “Oh my God!” She placed fifth at the 2012 London Games and was 10th at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Larisa Korobeynikova of Russia beat Alice Volpi of Italy 15-14 in the bronze match.

In another upset, French fencer Romain Cannone, ranked 47th, rose through the ranks to beat top-ranking Hungarian Gergely Siklosi and take the gold medal in the men’s epee final.

Siklosi had won the world championship in 2019. Tokyo 2020 was the first Olympic Games for both Siklosi and Cannone.

But Cannone secured his win when he and Siklosi both lunged, the latter missing his target while Cannone landed his blow on Siklosis back.

Cannone took his mask off after the last point and raised his arms in stunned silence.

Igor Reizlin of Ukraine won the bronze with a 15-12 victory over Andrea Santarelli of Italy.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2021