Jewish U.S. fencer wins Olympic silver

American Sada Jacobson won a fencing silver medal, becoming perhaps the first Jewish medalist of the Beijing Olympics.

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American Sada Jacobson won a fencing silver medal, becoming perhaps the first Jewish medalist of the Beijing Olympics.

Jacobson lost, 15-8, in the women’s individual saber final Saturday to fellow American Mariel Zagunis, who also won gold at the 2004 Games in Athens. Jacobson, of Dunwoody, Ga., took the bronze four years ago.

Jacobson had rallied to defeat Sofiya Velikaya of Russia in the semifinals, 15-11. She had beaten Ukraine’s Olena Khomrova by the same score in the quarterfinals.

“There was a new game plan that I was trying and new things,” Jacobson said about her semifinal win. “I was just being a little looser in the second round.”

Rebecca Ward defeated Velikaya in the bronze-medal match, giving the Americans a sweep in the event.

 

 

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