Nov. 7, 2010
PARIS, France – Former University of Notre Dame fencer Mariel Zagunis captured gold at the FIE World Championships Saturday from Paris, while current Irish foilist Gerek Meinhardt secured bronze in men’s foil on Sunday.
Zagunis advanced into the semifinals with four convincing wins in direct elimination play, defeating Margarita Tschomakova of Bulgaria 15-10 in the Round of 64, Irene DiTranso of Italy 15-6 in the Round of 32, Olga Ovtchinnikova of Canada 15-9 in the Round of 16 and Carole Vergne of France 15-8 in the quarterfinals.
Ukraine’s Olena Khomrova awaited Zagunis in the semis and held a 6-4 lead over the international No. 1-ranked sabreist before Zagunis rattled off 11 consecutive touches for a convincing 15-6 victory and spot in the finals. She faced another Ukrainian in the championship bout in Olga Kharlan and held her off for a 15-11 victory and the gold medal.
The victory marked the second-consecutive year that Zagunis stood atop the podium at the World Championships, after she won the event in 2009 in Antalya, Turkey.
Meinhardt, meanwhile, became the first U.S. foilist ever to medal at the World Championships when he brought home the bronze on Sunday.
The brackets overall 14th seed advanced to the semifinals with wins over Jamie Kenber of Great Britain in the Round of 64, 15-10, and Sebastian Bachmann of Germany in the Round of 32, 15-12. Meinhardt faced a close challenge in the Round of 16, but emerged victorious with a 15-14 decision over Andriy Pogrebnyak of Ukraine and then dispatched Maor Hatoel of Israel in the Quarterfinals, 14-11, for a spot in the final four.
Meinhardt met up with Germany’s Peter Joppich, the overall seventh seed, in the semifinals and dropped a tough bout, 15-12.
Individual action wraps up on Monday at the World Championships with men’s and women’s epee. Current Irish women’s fencers Courtney Hurley and Ewa Nelip advanced into the direct elimination table and 2010 graduate Kelley Hurley also placed in the top 64.
Following individual action, team play begins on Tuesday with sabre, followed by the foil on Wednesday and epee on Thursday.
Be sure to check back with und.com for continued updates on the Irish at the 2010 FIE World Championships.
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