cyranoVR's Journal: Team USA Stuns World, Wins NYC Grand Prix Men's Saber GOLD

And they did the hard way - beating Poland, Russia, France (!) and Spain for the Gold.

Spain somehow upset Hungary - but that's not as big of an upset as USA's dramatic victory over Russia, who inexplicably (arrogantly?) started their sub fencer instead of 1996 Olympic champion Pozdniakov. Well, serves them right! :P

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AP: Americans Win First World Cup Gold in Men's Team Saber

DAVID MORDKOFF, AP Sports Writer

The U.S. men's saber team won a World Cup event for the first time Thursday after upsetting No. 1 Russia and France, and then beating Spain in the final at the New York Grand Prix of fencing.

Former world No. 1 Keeth Smart finished off the improbable run by avoiding an attack from Jaime Marti and responding with a quick touch to the Spaniard's midsection to give the Americans a 45-36 win in the final at Hunter College.

"Today has been the greatest day I've had fencing-wise," Smart said. "I was ranked No. 1 in the world last year, it means nothing -- it pales in comparison to this."

The Americans reached the semifinals at a World Cup for the first time by stunning powerhouse Russia 45-39. The Russians, who had never lost to the Americans, did not use three-time world champion Stanislav Pozdniakov until the score was 40-30 for the U.S. entering the last encounter.

"They thought they were going to win without Pozdniakov, for sure," U.S. coach Yury Gelman said of the Russian team. "They all are great fencers. They all have won World Cups."

The Americans did not find out about the Russian lineup until moments before their quarterfinal bout, and used Pozdniakov's absence as a motivator.

"Who do they think they are, sitting out their best guy?," said Jason Rogers, describing his pregame thoughts. "It was really nice to take it and give it right back."
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Full results here.

Re:

[account_deleted]

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Amazing performance, but...

[Eluvias]

What in the heck is that on Jason Roger's mask?

Re:Amazing performance, but...

[cyranoVR]

They have small lights inside the masks that light up when the fencers score a touch. Saber was done completely wirelessly in the finals, and I guess that the lights in the mask are part of the system.

woooo!

[robi2106]

That is great news for these summer games! Is the same line up that compeated for this game going to be competing in Athens? If so, I think this is looking very good...

Thanks for the news!

jason

Re:woooo!

[cyranoVR]

Yes.

Suffice to say: this was a big confidence booster. Also, Women's Saber is currently dominating the competition, and they are now sending a third athelete after an African country withdrew. If we don't get a medal in this event, (let alone the gold) it will be a quite a dissapointment.

Damn, Americans dissapointed not to win the gold. WTF is going on here? :)