Fencing | Italian great Valentina Vezzali ends career with silver medal

Italian fencing great Valentina Vezzali’s career ended yesterday after she helped the nation win a silver medal at the team world championships in Rio De Janeiro.
Vezzali, a six-time Olympic champion, had previously announced that the world championships would be her last appearance on the piste. But Russia defeated the Italians 45-39 in women’s foil — just a year after losing to Italy at worlds.
Vezzali, now 42, failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics after a defeat in November. She won nine Olympic medals and 16 world golds during her career.
France finished third, followed by South Korea and the U.S.