Source: Xinhua

08-09-2008 21:14

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

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(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)
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)

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.