<p>Congrats to her, her family, and the US team - what an accomplishment!</p>
<p>Ward</a> Wins Bronze Medal In Beijing - GoDuke.comOfficial Athletics Web site of Duke University
Ward Wins Bronze Medal In Beijing
08/09/2008 - Duke Sports Information </p>
<p>BEIJING - Incoming Duke freshman Rebecca Ward won a bronze medal in the Individual Women's Fencing Sabre competition Saturday at the Fencing Center in Beijing at the XXIX Summer Olympic Games.</p>
<p>Seeded No. 2, Ward was upset by teammate and No. 5 seeded Mariel Zagunis in the semifinals, 15-11. Ward and Zagunis are from the same club in Oregon and Zagunis is the defending Olympic gold medalist.</p>
<p>Ward then rebounded to defeat Russia's Sofiya Velikaya in the bronze medal match-up, 15-14. Velikaya scored five straight after they were tied at 1-1 to take a 6-1 lead. Ward cut the lead to 8-6 and after Velikaya took a 11-8 lead, Ward had a 5-0 run to take the lead, 13-11. Velikaya tied it at 13-13 and again at 14-14 after Ward took the advantage before Ward finished her off, 15-14.</p>
<p>After a Round of 64 bye, Ward defeated Araceli Navarro of Spain 12-7 after Navarro had to default because of a shoulder injury. Ward then looked unstoppable in the Round of 32, defeating Hungary's Orsolya Nagy, 15-5, in the most lopsided match-up of the round. After falling behind 8-5 at the minute break against Aaaz Besbes from Tunisia, she fought back to take a 14-12 lead before finally holding Besbes off with a 15-14 win.</p>
<p>The Americans swept the podium as Zagunis successfully defended her gold by defeating No. 1 seed Sada Jacobson, 15-8. </p>
<p>Ward's Olympics are not finished as she and her teammates will take part in the Women's Team Sabre competition on August 14. The Quarterfinals will begin at 9:30 p.m. ET August 13 with the medal matches taking place shortly after midnight on the east coast.</p>