Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs lead U.S. women to fencing gold in team foil at Paris Olympics

PARIS - The United States is fast becoming a world power in women’s team foil, and now it has the hardware to prove it.

The U.S. beat top-seeded Italy 45-39 for its first gold medal in the event Thursday at the Grand Palais, capping a brilliant Olympics that also saw fencers Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs win individual gold and silver.

Three years after losing to the Italians 45-23 in a lopsided bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, the American women were the early aggressors on their way to their second medal in women's team foil's 64-year Olympic history.

The U.S. won silver in the event in 2008, but with less individual success than the team enjoyed this summer. Kiefer beat Scruggs in the individual final, 15-6, marking the first time the country has gone 1-2 in the sport in the Olympics.

On Thursday, Kiefer and Scruggs got the U.S. off to a fast start, using their speed to build an early 10-5 lead.

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Italy’s top fencer, Alice Volpi, who lost the bronze medal match to Canada’s Eleanor Harvey in individual foil, rallied to tie the match at 12 against Jacqueline Dubrovich, but Dubrovich closed the third round with three consecutive points and the U.S. added steadily to its lead.

Maia Weintraub replaced Dubrovich - only fencers who participate in the event get medals - and Arianna Errigo pulled Italy within three in the final round, but Scruggs scored the final three points for the U.S. and celebrated the victory by flipping her mask off her head and raising her arms in joy.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.