Paris 2024 fencing: All results, as USA women take first-ever foil gold in team competition
The United States women continued to reign supreme in the foil fencing competition, adding team gold to the individual silver and gold they took earlier this week and becoming the first-ever American team, male or female, to take the gold medal in the team competition.
It was on day six (1 August) of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that the four women made history inside of the iconic Grand Palais by beating Italy’s women 45-39.
Italy will upgrade the medal they took at Tokyo 2020 from bronze to silver.
The final got off to an exciting start, with USA’s back-to-back reigning champion Lee Kiefer and Italy’s Arianna Erigo making a combined seven hits within the first minute of competition, tying up the score 4-4 before Kiefer put the United States in the lead at the first changeover.
USA’s Lauren Scruggs began to pull away from the Italians, finishing five points ahead at the second changeover and other than a 12-12 tie, the United States held their lead on Italy until the end.
“I’m just very shocked. I have honestly no words to describe it,” Scruggs said after accepting the gold.
“It’s super cool to make history. It’s unbelievable to make history. I’m just very, very shocked right now. I don’t have a lot of words to describe it.”
Italy’s Erigo gave birth to twins just over one year ago, and tonight, she will stand on the Olympic podium with a silver medal around her neck.
Japan took the bronze medal over Canada in a close contest that finished with a score of 33-32.
Fencing: Women's foil fencing team podium
Gold: USA
Silver: Italy
Bronze: Japan