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Improves one spot from in Atlanta Associated Press SYDNEY, Australia -- Italy's Valentina Vezzali only had one more step to climb to improve on her last Olympic fencing performance. On Thursday night she did it, winning the gold medal in women's individual foil. The 1996 silver medalist at Atlanta beat Rita Koenig of Germany in the final match. "I had a difficult competition today, but I would not have changed anything," Vezzali said. Giovanna Trillini, also of Italy, won the bronze with a 15-9 victory over Romania's Laura Gabriela Carlescu Badea. Mihai Claudiu Covaliu of Romania won the men's sabre, defeating Mathieu Gourdain of France 15-12. Wiradech Kothny of Germany took the bronze by beating Domonkos Ferjancsik of Hungary 15-11. Koenig, who lost the final match 15-5, was surprised that she even got that far. "I didn't expect to win a medal at all," the silver medalist said. Vezzali won three World Cup titles this year leading up to the Sydney Games. "She proved she is worthy of her world No. 1 ranking," Koenig said. It was the second fencing gold in these games for Italy, which also won the men's team épée. The individual foil was probably the last in the career of Chinese-born Canadian Julie Luan. Luan, the gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, is expected to retire following her 15-8 preliminary loss to Seo Mi-jung of South Korea. The Canadian team coach called it "a miracle" that she even made it to Sydney. "Just the fact that she is here is incredible considering she is 42, has three kids and lives in a remote part of Canada -- five hours from the nearest training camp," Guittet said. "I think this is definitely the end of her career now, but it's up to her to announce her retirement." |  | ALSO SEE South Korea wins its first fencing medal Russia wins gold in women's team épée Italy defends team épée title | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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