LONDON (AP) — Elisa Di Francisca completed an Italian sweep of the medals at the Olympics’ individual foil Saturday, winning the gold 12-11 in overtime against countrywoman Arianna Errigo.
De Francisca, the 2010 world champion, upset top-ranked Nam Hyun-Hee of Korea by the same score in the women’s semifinals.
In the other semifinal, Errigo beat three-time defending champion Valentina Vezzali 15-12, denying her Italian teammate a chance to become the first female athlete to win individual gold at four consecutive Olympics.
The 38-year-old Vezzali won a tense battle for bronze, 13-12 against Nam.
Vezzali won gold at every Olympics since 2000. With another gold medal, she would have equaled the record held by three male athletes – sailor Paul Elvstrom of Denmark, and discus thrower Al Oerter and long jumper Carl Lewis, both of the United States.
