Mariel Zagunis won the first US gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, leading an American sweep today in women's saber fencing. Zagunis, the 2004 saber champion, took the gold with a victory over Sada Jacobson, who took the silver. Becca Ward won the bronze.
When Zagunis won 4 years ago, she was the first American in a century to win a fencing gold. Now, it's becoming commonplace in this event. The US will also be favored to win the team competition in women's saber. (More 2008 Beijing Olympics stories.)