Estonia’s Novosjolov was one of the top favorites for gold today, but that didn’t stop Seth Kelsey.
Kelsey dominated in his match with the top seed, winning 15-11.
The fencers kept the match close, but Kelsey held a 5-4 lead at the end of the first period. He then pushed the lead to two points early in the second period. As Novosjolov tried to find a way to attack, Kelsey held the former world champion off with a series of double touches to go into the break up 11-9.
In the 3rd period, Kelsey continued to lay traps and scored several single-light touches to go up 13-9. Novosjolov attack again, but Kelsey doubled to bring the score to 14-10.
“Zero Zero! Leave it all big guy!” extolled coach Sebastien Dos Santos.
Kelsey kept active, and doubled out on the Estonian for the final touch.
After the bout, Novosjolov was at a loss for how he could have changed the outcome: “I thought I was ready for this but I was not. He fenced very well. I don’t know what I could have done differently.”
Kelsey will face Venezuela’s Silvio Fernandez for a spot in the top-4.
