Mariel Zagunis is a two-time Olympic champion, a Hall of Famer and the most decorated athlete in the history of American fencing.
None of that helped her Tuesday when she suffered her worst result at the world championships in a decade.
The 30-year-old lost, 15-9, to Anna Marton of Hungary in the round of 16 on the second day of competition in Moscow.
Since 2005, Zagunis had reached the quarterfinals or better at every world championship and Olympics. She was the flag bearer for the U.S. team in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Games.