The United States women’s foil team will fight Russia for the gold medal after they held on to defeat Hungary 35-33. Russia won a controversial call in overtime of their match to advance 22-21 over Italy. Italy will face Hungary for the bronze.
The US team fenced their first two bouts against Hungary to a 6-6 stalemate. Then Emily Cross took a 5-2 score in her bout to put the US up by 3. Hanna Thompson extended the lead to 5 and the US would enter the final bout up 33-19.
{sidebar id=1}The Hungarians were not finished, as their anchor Aida Mohamed would score 9 straight points against Erinn Smart to put the match within reach. "She’s (Mohamed) incredible at team and incredible in the last bouts," said Cross of Mohamed.
Smart was able to withstand Mohamed’s 14-2 charge and closed out the bout with a touch just before time expired, putting the US ahead 35-33 and into the Gold medal bout.
Much of their success is attributed to their team comraderie, "We’ve been fencing, all of us have just been fencing for the past year." The team had spent several months living and training in Hungary.
Erinn Smart reflected on their performance: "It finally came together after a year of work, of always being close, a touch away and then finally doing it."