Italy claim team gold in foil

Italy’s version of the ‘Dream Team’ did what was expected at the ExCeL Fencing arena tonight, adding Team Foil gold to the three individual medals they won on Saturday in the women’s foil. Valentina Vezzali, Elisa Di Francisca – now a double gold medal-winner in London – and new world number one Arianna Errigo were in unstoppable form all day and took the title with a 45-31 victory over Russia. The Russians were the defending champions, having defeated Italy by a single point – 22-21 – in the semi-finals in Beijing. They even felt comfortable enough to bring on substitute Ilaria Salvatori for one bout near the end so she could also receive a gold. She lost 9-5, but it did not matter – their only other defeat in 27 three-minute contests during the entire competition was Vezzali’s in the very last head-to-head. Bronze went to Republic of Korea after they got the better of France 45-32.