BEIJING: Italy’s Maria Valentina Vezzali’s dominance in women’s foil continued yesterday. But this time the three-time individual gold medalist found a new partner in Italy’s Olympic success.
Vezzali won the gold medal in women’s foil yesterday, but bronze medalist Margherita Granbassi was on the podium where seven-time medal winner Giovanna Trillini had been in years past.
Vezzali took the lead on a touch with 4 seconds left and held off South Korean Nam Hyun-hee 6-5. After the emotional victory, Vezzali fell to the floor and broke down. She stood and pumped her fist.
“I think it was very good for Margherita to get to where she got,” said Vezzali, who held hands with her teammate during the Italian national anthem in the medal ceremony.
“I think this means that there is continuity in the foil discipline. I think in the future more gold will emerge.” Vezzali, who has won six Olympic medals since 1996, also won team foil gold medals in 1996 and 2000 and silver in the individual event in 1996. She led 3-0 before Nam tied it, then took the lead late and made Vezzali claw until the last seconds for the win.
Granbassi’s first Olympic medal came at the expense of Trillini who has won at least one medal in each Olympics since 1992. Granbassi, the 2006 world champion, won 15-12. Vezzali beat Granbassi to get to the finals. Nam finished eighth in Athens. “Today she was really untouchable,” Granbassi said of Vezzali. “I can confirm this.” Vezzali said her young son Pietro asked her to bring him home a medal.
“He didn’t actually say whether he wanted a silver or a goal or whatever,” she said. “But anyway here is the medal and I’m proud of it.” Granbassi ripped off her mask and let out a scream before jumping in the air. The two then embraced for several seconds before they released and Trillini kissed Granbassi’s cheek. Trillini was unhappy with the officiating of China’s Lu Jianming in her semifinal.
“In the semifinal match, the difference is the judge,” she said.
Italy had a sizable cheering section, but one fans’ mind was on another issue. While waiting for the medal ceremony, he held up a sign that read ‘Baldini is clean!!!!’ Andrea Baldini is the Italian men’s foil star who lost his place on the Olympic team after testing positive for a banned substance.
