RIO DE JANEIRO – Former Duke fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first Blue Devil to medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, claiming bronze with Team USA in the women’s team sabre competition Saturday at the Carioca Arena 3 in Rio.
Muhammad and teammates Monica Aksamit, Dagmara Wozniak and Mariel Zagunis defeated Italy 45-30 in the third-place match to earn the first women’s medal in fencing by Americans in Rio. Muhammad outscored her Italian opponents 10-8 in the match to help the U.S. win all nine rounds.
Earlier in the day, Muhammad and Team USA topped Poland, 45-43, in the quarterfinals and nearly came back to upset Russia in the semifinals, falling 45-42.