Two-time Olympic fencing champion Mariel Zagunis has been one of the U.S. team’s more familiar faces ever since her upset victory in women’s sabre in Athens. But Team USA’s flag-bearer for the 2012 London Olympics will not win her third gold medal in the event after falling in a semifinal match to Kim Jiyeon.
Mariel Zagunis Falls In Women’s Sabre Semifinal, Will Not Win Gold Medal In London
Zagunis led 8-2 after the first three-minute period of the match, and 12-5 in the second period, but Kim ripped off 10 touches to Zagunis’ one from that point on, stunning the gold medal favorite in the event.
Zagunis’ defeat means there will be a new Olympic champion in women’s sabre. Not only that, the champion will be someone other than Zagunis for the very first time, since the event had its premier in Athens.
This was her first loss ever in women’s sabre, but Zagunis can still win bronze by defeating the loser of the other semifinal match between Olga Kharlan and Sophia Velikaia in a bronze medal match later on Wednesday.
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