2006 World Championships - Torino, Italy

Rebecca Ward Wins 4th World Champion Title, USA Women Sweep Medals
Ward becomes the youngest fencer in history to hold the title, and the first to hold 4 titles in one season

                                                       
                                                     Team USA in it's historic medal sweep. L-R, Mariel Zagunis - silver,         16 yr. Becca clinches the gold against team-mate Zagunis
                                                      Rebecca Ward - Gold, Sada Jacobson - bronze 
                                                                                                              photos courtesy of Serge Timacheff/fencingphotos.com

Details from a historic day for US fencing:

Caity Thompson (USA) lost to Fedorokina (RUS) in the round to make 16. Thompson was leading thru the first half of her bout, she was overcome at 10-10 and lost her consistent 2 point lead.  Fedorokina went on to meet 16 yr. old Rebecca Ward (USA) and led over Ward the first half dominating 8-6 at the first break. But Fedorkina lost to Ward after a contested touch at 13-14; new video-replay was used and Ward given the touch to win. To make the top 4 medal round Ward faced Diatchenko (RUS) and controlled the bout from the start.

Fortunately the top 3 US fencers were in different quads of the tableau and wouldn't meet until the semi-final round.

Mariel Zagunis (USA- 2004 Olympic champion), started the day a little nervous trailing against Zerfass (GER) in the first round, but allowing her opponent to only score one touch in the second half of the bout. Zagunis faced Wienscoskca (POL) starting with an easy lead of 8-2. Changing tactics, falling short, and dealing with 3 stops of the bout by the Polish for video replay (in which Poland won 2 of their three contested touches taking the touches away from Zagunis). Zagunis re-gained composure and went on to win handily. Other matches Agausnt Kharlan of URK and Budojso (GER) were controlled and Zagunis took command in each bout.

Sada Jacobson (USA-2004 Olympic bronze medalist) handily beat all her opponents up to a closely contested bout against 2005 World Champion Ann Luis Touya (FRA) Trailing by 2 points most of the match, Jacobson was able to bring the score to 12-12 and then each traded touches. At 14-14 Sada was awarded the last touch, but not after Touya asked for video review of the point. Sada prevailed and went on to the top four round meeting teammate and friend Zagunis. Zagunis commanded a 3-4 point lead the entire bout, winning 15-10.

Ward met Kim of Korea in the semi-finals, in a touch for touch trade but Ward trailed and looked to be defeated at 14-10. But Becca never gave up and scored the next 5 consecutive touches to pull off the victory. The last touch was contested by the Korean but over-ruled and a yellow card given to the Korean for the protest.

Ward met Zagunis for the Gold Medal. A couple of close outs and short attacks by Zagunis in the first half, she was not able to re-gain any lead or run on Ward. Ward won 15-11 in a spectacular end of this season. Ward wins the gold Gold and the title of 2006 Senior World Champion; 2006 Cadet World Champion; 2006 Junior World Champion and 2006 Junior Team World Champion. The youngest and first fencer in history to hold all 4 titles in one season. She has only to end her run in history by winning another Gold this weekend in the senior team event.