Road to Athens: Zagunis makes 3 for US Women’s Sabre!

{mosimage}“This was the best weekend of my life!”

US Women’s Sabre fencer Mariel Zagunis now has her ticket punched for Athens!  Zagunis capped off a strong World Cup win with the announcement by the US Fencing Association that she had been awarded a bid to compete in the Athens Olympic Games.

At the Coupe du Monde in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany this weekend, Zagunis defeated world #5 Anne-Lise Touya of France 15-13.  All 3 US Olympic fencers placed in the top 20.

Zagunis is now ranked #6 in the world in Women’s Sabre; all 3 US fencers are in the top 10.  (Sada Jacobson: 1st, Emily Jacobson: 8th).

Fencing.Net originally reported that there was some speculation that Mariel Zagunis could qualify for the Olympics if one of the African nations chose not to send an athlete.  The Nigerian National Olympic Committee (NOC) refused the spot earned for their originally qualified athlete (ESIMAJE of NGR).  Tunisian athlete Sondès Smandi may receive a bid from her NOC (National Olympic Committee.)

Upon returning home from Germany, Mariel Zagunis heard the news from Coach Ed Korfanty’s wife.  “This was the best weekend of my life!” said Zagunis when reached for comment.

Zagunis will now be the 3rd US Women’s Sabre fencer at the Athens Olympic Games, giving the US a much better chance at a medal.  The United States and France are the only countries with 3 athletes qualified in Women’s Sabre.

Results from the Tauberbischofsheim World Cup

Quarter finals: 
Svetlana Kormilitsyna (Russia) def. Orsolya Nagy (Hungary) 15-14
Anne Lise Touya (France) def. Cecile Argiolas (France) 15: 13
Gioia Marzocca (Italy) def. Natalia Makeeva (Russia) 15-14
Mariel Zagunis (USA) def. Sophia Velikaia (Russia) 15: 14

Semi-finals:
Anne Lise Touya def. Svetlana Kormilitsyna 15-10
Mariel Zagunis def. Gioia Marzocca 15-14

Finals:
Mariel Zagunis def. Anne Lise Touya  15-13

Final Placements:

DE Table of 64