Italy Gets It Done in Dramatic Fashion

Angelo Mazzoni, bleeding heavily from a cut above his eye, earned Italy its second fencing gold of the Olympics by landing the decisive hit in the men’s team epee event.

Mazzoni ended the final looking like a prize fighter after an accidental collision with Russian rival Alexander Beketov six seconds from the end of the bout pushed his mask into his face, opening a wound above his right eye.

Bloodied but unbowed, Mazzoni registered the touch required to give his country a 45-43 victory.

Maurizio Randazzo, Mazzoni and third team member Sandro Cuomo had dominated the final throughout but Beketov, winner of the individual epee gold on Saturday, gave them a fright in the last bout.

Starting 35-40 down, the Russian army officer brought the score to 43-44 before he was denied a second gold.

It was Italy’s seventh Olympic gold in team epee, one better than traditional fencing rival France, which defeated Germany, 45-42, for the bronze.

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Medalists / Fencing

MEN’S TEAM EPEE

Gold: Italy

Silver: Russia

Bronze: France