Women's Individual Sabre

The two Americans in women’s sabre were Dagmara (or Daga) Wozniak and the two-time reigning Olympic champion, Mariel Zagunis. (Note: women’s sabre first became an Olympic event in 2004, so Mariel was the only women’s sabre Olympic champion.)

Mikini v. Bujdoso in the round of 32. Bujdoso attacked for the first two points. Her next point came on a parry riposte. Bujdoso scored again, and then again on a counter attack. 5-0. She attacked for a sixth point. Then Mikina's parry riposte landed, and then Bujdoso's attack was no and Mikina's was yes. Then simultaneous. Bujdoso attacked twice. 8-2 Bujdoso. Only thirty seconds of fencing time had passed.

Bujdoso's counter attack landed to start the second period. Then Mikina's attack hit. 3-9. Bujdoso's attack scored, then Mikina's did. Mikina's counter attack landed and Bujdoso's attack didn't. 5-10. Mikina pushed Bujdoso, and Bujdoso's attack scored, and then again. Then Bujdoso pushed hard and scored. 11-7. Bujdoso's counter attack put her up 12-7. Mikina's attack, then on the next point Bujdoso's attack was no and Mikina's counter was yes. Mikina's attack landed. 10-12. Then there was a simultaneous, nothing done. Mikina attacked and scored. 11-12. She was really coming back -- impressive. Bujdoso then scored on an composed attack. Then simultaneous. Mikina's counter attack landed and Bujdoso's attack did not. 12-13. Simultaneous again. Mikina attacked and Bujdoso fell, and then Mikina attacked again. 14-13, Mikina leading for the first time! Bujdoso attacked, and Mikina parried and her riposte landed. 15-13, Mikina, not at all would have been expected after the first period.

In Mariel’s round of 32 bout, she didn't look really sharp in the first period, and she let her opponent get some simple attacks. However she also pushed well, and she got some nice parry ripostes. In Daga’s round of 32 bout, and she was moving really well and seemed calm. I hadn't noticed that both she and Mariel are lefties. Her next opponent was Azza Besbes of Tunisia, world #8. Mariel’s next opponent was Seira Nakayama of Japan. Nakayama is world #25.

 Okay, Mariel v. Nakayama.

Simultaneous. Mariel got the first touch, and she advanced really quickly, pas thte halfway point of the piste. Same thing again. Very explosive. Pushed Nakayama down the piste. Her first attack was no, and her remise was yes. Nakayama attacked and got her first point. 1-3. Simultaneous. Nakayama's attack was short, and then Zagunis started a new attack. Nakayama's parry riposte landed. 2-4. Nakayama's attack landed. Zagunis got an attack in prep. Mariel got a beat attack. Then simultaneous twice. Zagunis was being much more explosive, moving better. Another simultaneous. Zagunis is being more vocal -- much more vocal. Another simultaneous. Zagunis got two more touches, 8-3 at break. Nakayama's en garde was a lot more narrow than Mariel's. Two simultaneous to start the second period. Nakayama's simple attack landed. Simultaneous. Nakayama's attack landed. 5-8. Then Mariel's beat attack, very good looking. Mariel's attack again. Yet again Mariel's attack. Nakayama attacked, Mariel's riposte missed, and Nakayama's remise hit. Nakayama landed another attack. Nakayama got another attack to the arm. Mariel's attack. 12-8. Nakayama's parry riposte to the arm. Mariel pulled, then pushed, and she scored with a beat attack. Attack by Mariel. One more point, Mariel... thought she got the attack, asked for video. Called simultaneous after review. And Mariel's attack wins 15-9. Much better movement than earlier. When you're right on center, that tends to be simultaneous, and in this bout Mariel had a lot of that but also managed to push and pull Nakayama.

Daga v. Besbes

Besbes got the first point against Daga with a parry riposte. Then Daga got two points with an attack and then a parry riposte. 2-1. Parry riposte for Daga and a pretty one, then a counter attack. 4-1. Then Besbes got two touches, both on attacks. Lots of simultaneous, of course. Daga's attack, and then her parry riposte. Daga's parry riposte again. 7-3. Two more by Besbes, then an attack by besbes.6-7. Besbes tied it with a parry riposte. Daga got an eighth touch on a counter attack to end the period. 8-7. Besbes scored on a parry riposte ish (Daga's attack landed on Besbes' bell). Tied. Besbes went back up with a parry riposte, 9-8. Besbes scored again with an attack, then Daga got a parry riposte. Daga pushed hard, but Besbes got a parry riposte and scored. 11-9. Daga's parry riposte. Besbes' attack lands. 12-10. Daga scores. Daga scored on a beat attack after pushing, Besbes got an attack when Daga's jumping parry didn't land a riposte, then Daga again on an attack, and Daga kneeled and looked like her chin hurt, maybe. She was grimacing, but she made a sign to Besbes that she was okay. Daga pushed hard and attacked to go up 14-13. And Daga again pushes and attacks to win, 15-13. Daga looks exhausted, though.

Daga still looked relaxed and confident during the bout. Both were parrying and riposting well. Daga pushed really well near the end, though she made some mistakes on pushes earlier. It bodes really well that she was so explosive at the end.

Mariel's quarter against Zhu Min of China.

The first touches in Mariel's bout where simultaneous, then Zagunis pulled Zhu in, then Ahu stopped, and Mariel attacked. Mariel then got a second touch on a beat attack. Mariel is moving really well again. Mariel's beat attack lands after both did a simultaneous prise de fer. Zhu's attack landed on Mariel's arm. 1-3. Mariel's attack, Zhu's counter, Mariel parried the counter. Zhu's attack landed. Zagunis pushed and attacked. 6-2. And attack again. Zhu's parry riposte landed to Mariel's shoulder.  Mariel's beat attacks were working really well -- that was her last touch before break. 8-3. Mariel got the first point after break on a remise when Zhu's riposte was no. Zhu then got an attack 4-9. Mariel got her first parry-riposte touch. Pulled, waited for the attack. 10-4. Mariel moved forward,but her arm was bent, so Zhu's attack. Then Mariel's remise landed. 11-5. Mariel's attack landed. After another touch by Mariel, Mariel pushed really hard and attacked on a long lunge. 14-5. Zhu got a touch. 6-14. Then Mariel's attack landed. 15-6.

Daga’s quarterfinal against Velikaya.

Daga's footwork was good, but Velikaya was doing some nice bladework, and of course her footwork is beautiful, too. Velikaya wasn't doing a good job early of counter attacking without Daga's attacks landing. Daga was staying on the offense and was ahead 7-6. Two attacks in a row by Velikaya put her up 8-7 at break. Velikaya got a parry riposte for 9-7, and then for 10-7. Daga's attack landed and was not parried. Daga pushed Velikaya down her side of the strip, then attacked. It's nice that Daga's on offense, but she's more comfortable with parry ripostes. Velikaya got the next touch. Velikaya did a parry riposte for 12-9, then an attack. Daga's attack. The announcer's are right -- again an attack -- she's usually a defense person, but it's offense that's working here. Daga didn't extend her arm, so the attack is Velikaya's. Daga's attack. 12-14. Daga's really fighting back. Daga finally used her parry riposte. 13-14. Velikaya's attack landed, and she won the bout.

Mariel's semi v. Kim.

Kim attacked, and Mariel did a really clean parry riposte to get the first attack. Then she attacked and hit. On the next point, Mariel pushed hard and attacked. 3-0. Mariel pushed and was way out of range, then Kim came in. It looked like Mariel parried, but the parry didn't arrive. The next point was Mariel's compound attack. Both attacked, and it was called Mariel's right of way. 5-1. Kim attacked, and Mariel's counter landed and the attack was too late. The next point was Kim's point in line. Mariel pushed really aggressively again to get a slashing touch right in the middle of Kim's torso. 7-2. Kim attacked, but Mariel got the point for the counter attack. 8-2, break.

Mariel's attack didn't arrive, but Kim's counter attack did. On the next point, Mariel attacked. 9-3. Mariel again attacked, and this time Kim got a parry riposte. Kim attacked -- it was a really clean touch. Both women attacked the next time, but Mariel extended her blade first. 10-5. Mariel attacked, Kim countered, Mariel parried the counter and the riposte landed. Mariel's attack got her the next point. She pushed hard again, then stopped and seemed to wait for Kim. She wasn't able to stop Kim's attack, though. On the next touch, Kim got the point on a parry riposte. Then Kim got a touch on a counter attack. 8-12. Simultaneous, and then Mariel straightened her sabre. Kim's counter attack landed, and Mariel asked for Kim to test against her bell. Everything was worthing properly, though. Kim got a lot more aggressive. Her parry six - riposte landed.

Oh, also, both Kim and Mariel are lefties. Mariel's second attack landed. 13-10. Mariel pushed hard again, then Kim started pushing, and Kim did an almost ballet-chasse-like step into a big lunge. Mariel pushed again, but it also looked like Kim was pulling. Kim 's counter attack got her the point. 12-13. Mariel definitely seemed less confident. For the first time in the bout, she pulled, but her riposte was counter parried and Kim tied it. Then a simultaneous. Mariel pushed hard, then just stopped, and she started pulling, and she let Kim close the difference and get the touch. 14-13, Kim. And with a parry riposte, Kim won.

Velikaya started her semi against Kharlan with a succesful counter attack. Kharlan got the second point on an attack with a huge lunge. Velikaya parried Kharlan's attack and her riposte put her up 2-1. Kharlan pushed, then Velikaya attacked, and Kharlan got a counter attack to the head. Velikaya scored on an attack. Velikaya got a really simple looking counter attack -- like she just turned a little and reached in. Velikaya parreid Kharlan's attack, but no riposte, and Kharlan's remise landed. 3-4. Kharlan got the next two points to go up 5-4. Velikaya then scored on a beat attack. then Kharlan's attack, and then Velikaya's. 6-6. Velikaya's attack, and Velikaya got the next point, too. Both fencers were being really aggressive and taking loud, short, quick advances. 8-6, Velikaya at break.

Velikaya attacked to start the second period (not even a full second elapsed). Then Kharlan attacked, also in under a second. 7-9. Kharlan was pushing and attacking, and Velikaya got what looked an awful lot like a stop hit, but with the side of the blade to the shoulder. Then Velikaya's attack landed. Kharlan got the next point on a parry riposte. Velikaya asked for video, thinking it was her beat attack. Velikaya's attack landed, putting her up 13-8. Kharlan got the next point on a parry riposte, and then put the score at 10-13 with an attack. Both women attacked, and it was called simultaneous, Kharlan asked for video, but it was confirmed simultaneous. Kharlan's attack was no, and Velikaya's attack landed. 14-10. The next attack was ruled Kharlan's. The next point was ruled Kharlan's attack and Velikaya's counter, so 12-14. Then simultaneous. Kharlan was doing her best to come back. Kharlan attacked, since that had been working, but Velikaya got a parry riposte. 15-12, final score.

The final was Velikaya v. Kim, 2nd v. 5th, for the final. For the bronze would be Mariel and Kharlan, 1 v. 3.

Mariel's bronze medal match against Kharlan.

Zagunis got the first touch on an attack...but Kharlan challenged, and the call was overturned. Kharlan's point. The second point, though was indeed Mariel's. 1-1. Mariel pushed hard and hit Kharlan's inner side. 2-1. Again, Mariel's attack got the point. On the next one, both women came in, both lights, and it was called Mariel's attack. 4-1. Kharlan attacked low and her attack landed. 2-4. On the next point, Kharlan pushed, then Mariel started pushing, both women attacked, and it was called Kharlan's right of way. Mariel's attack was then no, and Kharlan's counter was yes. Tied at 4-4. Then Kharlan's attack was no, but Mariel counter was yes. Both women came in again, but it was Kharlan's attack. Tied at 5. Then Mariel's attack, and Kharlan's attack. Tied at 6. Zagunis' attack was no, but her remise landed. Kharlan attacked, and Mariel got a nice parry and her riposte landed. Break at 8-6, Mariel.

Kharlan attacked, and Mariel's counter didn't arrive. Then simultaneous thrice. Mariel attacked out of distance, then Kharlan attacked, and Mariel's counter arrived and blocked the attack. 9-7. Kharlan attacked again, very quickly. Simultaneous. The two fencers had pretty similar footwork and en gardes. Kharlan attacked and tied it, then she attacked and went up 10-9. Next was Mariel's attack and another tie, at 10. Kharlan challenged and was surprised the call wasn't overturned. Simultaneous. Next was Kharlan's attack. Mariel attacked, and Kharlan got a parry riposte to go up 12-10. Mariel was keeping her blade lower than Kharlan, but then Kharlan lowered her blade and got a low touch. Mariel's attack was too late arriving, and Kharlan's counter attack hit Mariel's elbow. The first attack was no, then stop, and then Kharlan's attack was yes. Mariel called for video -- I mean, even if she knew, it's the wise thing to do, right? But it didn't take long. Kharlan's win was confirmed. Mariel Zagunis, two time Olympic champion and world number 1 prior to today, did not medal.

Kim v. Velikaya

Velikaya pushed, attacked, Kim countered, Velikaya parried and her riposte landed. Velikaya started attacking, then stopped, and Kim landed a touch. Kim went up 2-1 with an attack.  The next touch was Velikaya's attack, stop, Kim's attack again. Then Kim scored on a counter riposte. Kim kept her back leg more bent than did Velikaya. Velikaya got a point on a parry riposte of a counter attack. then Kim got a point the same way. They were using a good bit of the strip, and both were moving really well. Kim attacked, jumping, and Veilkaya parried it and her riposte got her the touch... well, that was the call. Kim asked for a video,a nd the call was change. The parry came too late; the attack had already landed. Kim attacked. 6-3. Next was Velikaya's attack. Velikaya was staying higher up and galloping, in a way. Velikaya pushed Kim very far down the strip and got the touch. Then Kim's attack was short, and her remise caught Velikaya's wrist. Then Kim attacked to Velikaya's other arm. Break, with Kim leading 8-5.

Kim started the second period with two attacks, going  up 10-5. Kim was a lot more aggressive than Velikaya at this point. Velikaya's attack was no, they stopped, and then Kim attacked. In Kim's prep, Velikaya attacked and got really far within Kim's range. Once again, Velikaya attacked. She was getting aggressive, going on the offense again. 7-11. Velikaya pushed and attacked. Velikaya does best when she's pushing, really going for it. She misses the attacks that she doesn't commit as much. Kim attacked, and Velikaya parried and got a riposte. 9-11. Kim attacked. Kim's remise landed on the next point. 13-9. It looked like Velikaya might come back, but now she didn't seem to have a chance. Kim parried Velikaya's attack and the remise landed. Simultaneous. And like earlier, Velikaya started to attack but didn't commit, stopped, and Kim attacked to win, 15-9. Kim Jiyeun won the gold medal.