American Mariel Zagunis wins women's individual sabre Olympic gold

American Mariel Zagunis wins women's individual sabre Olympic gold

Zagunis(L) of the United States competes against her teammate Becca Ward during the women's individual sabre semifinal 2 at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Zagunis beat Ward in the bout. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)


BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mariel Zagunis, the Athens Olympic champion in woman's saber, defended her title and won the first gold medal for the United States at the Beijing Games on Saturday.

Zagunis beat her teammate Sada Jocobason 15-8.

The bronze medal went to another U.S. fencer Becca Ward after she edged out Sofiya Velikaya from Russia 15-14.


Mariel Zagunis of the United States celebrates after defeating her compatriot Sada Jacobson during the women's individual sabre gold medal match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Zagunis won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaowei)


Sada Jacobson of the United States acts after defeating Sofiya Velikaya of Russia during the women's individual sabre semifinal 1 at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)