Rebecca Ward
Encyclopedia
Rebecca "Becca" Ward (born February 7, 1990) is an American
sabre
fencer
. She won the gold medal
at the sabre 2006 World Fencing Championships
after beating Mariel Zagunis
15-11 in the final, and took bronze
in both individual and team sabre events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
.
and has won a record number of world titles for a female sabre fencer in 2006; Cadet (U17), Junior (U20), Junior Team and Senior. As of June 2007, Ward was ranked first in the world in both Official and World Cup rankings for senior women sabre fencers.
As of July 2007, Ward was the number-one-ranked senior women's sabre fencer in the United States and on the FIE Rankings. Ward won the Grand Prix in Las Vegas and gave up only 30 points of a possible 90 (an average of only five points in each 15-point bout).
As of 2008, she was fencing for Duke University
under Maître Alex Beguinet while working towards majors in Public Policy
and Psychology
as well as a Certificate in Energy and the Environment. On Sunday March 22, 2009, she won the women's NCAA national individual sabre title.. She failed to defend her title in 2010, losing the final match to Caroline Vloka of Harvard. On Sunday, March 27, 2011, Ward defeated Vloka in the women's sabre NCAA semifinal, and went on to reclaim her title by defeating Princeton's Eliza Stone 15-12 in the gold-medal match.
of Hungary in the round of 16, 15-5. In the quarterfinals, she beat Tunisia's Azza Besbes, 15-14, in a match decided by one final touch.
In the semifinals, Ward faced defending Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis
, with whom she trained regularly at the Oregon Fencing Alliance. She lost the bout 15-11 to Zagunis, who would go on to win the gold medal. Shortly after, Ward fenced in the bronze medal bout, where she defeated Russia's Sofia Velikaya 15-14. This assured that American fencers would sweep all three medals prior to the actual final bout, in which Sada Jacobson
faced Mariel Zagunis for the gold.
In the women's sabre team event, the US was heavily favored to win the team event. Ward teamed up with Jacobson and Zagunis to defeat the South Africa
n team in the quarterfinals, 45-8.
In the semifinals, they fenced Ukraine. The Ukrainians, seeded fifth in the tournament, defeated the favored US team 45-39, denying them a gold medal, and placing them in the bronze medal bout against France.
The USA team rebounded from their semifinal loss by defeating the French team 45-38, with Ward making the final touch of the bout, and Ward earned her second bronze medal of the Olympics.
However, Ward's most notable achievement was during her junior year of high school where her breasts grew to new sizes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sabre
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
. She won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the sabre 2006 World Fencing Championships
2006 World Fencing Championships
The 2006 World Fencing Championships were held at the Oval Lingotto in Turin, Italy. The event took place from September 29 to October 7, 2006.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:*...
after beating Mariel Zagunis
Mariel Zagunis
Mariel Leigh Zagunis is an American Olympic sabre fencer, of Lithuanian heritage. She won the gold medals in the individual sabre at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is only the second American ever to have won a gold medal in Olympic fencing.-Biography:Zagunis is the...
15-11 in the final, and took bronze
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in both individual and team sabre events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
History
A member of the Oregon Fencing Alliance (OFA), she trained with Ed KorfantyEd Korfanty
Edward Korfanty is a Polish-born American fencing master, U.S. National Women's saber coach, Olympic saber coach, and a former Men's Veterans Saber World Champion.-Fencing:Korfanty was a member of the Polish national fencing team from 1972 to 1984...
and has won a record number of world titles for a female sabre fencer in 2006; Cadet (U17), Junior (U20), Junior Team and Senior. As of June 2007, Ward was ranked first in the world in both Official and World Cup rankings for senior women sabre fencers.
As of July 2007, Ward was the number-one-ranked senior women's sabre fencer in the United States and on the FIE Rankings. Ward won the Grand Prix in Las Vegas and gave up only 30 points of a possible 90 (an average of only five points in each 15-point bout).
As of 2008, she was fencing for Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
under Maître Alex Beguinet while working towards majors in Public Policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
as well as a Certificate in Energy and the Environment. On Sunday March 22, 2009, she won the women's NCAA national individual sabre title.. She failed to defend her title in 2010, losing the final match to Caroline Vloka of Harvard. On Sunday, March 27, 2011, Ward defeated Vloka in the women's sabre NCAA semifinal, and went on to reclaim her title by defeating Princeton's Eliza Stone 15-12 in the gold-medal match.
2008 Beijing Olympics
Ward was one of the top seeds for the individual sabre competition. She won her first bout, against Spain's Araceli Navarro, when her opponent was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury (Ward was winning 12-7 at the time). She then defeated Orsolya NagyOrsolya Nagy
Orsolya Nagy is a Hungarian fencer who has represented her country at two Summer Olympic Games.- References :...
of Hungary in the round of 16, 15-5. In the quarterfinals, she beat Tunisia's Azza Besbes, 15-14, in a match decided by one final touch.
In the semifinals, Ward faced defending Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis
Mariel Zagunis
Mariel Leigh Zagunis is an American Olympic sabre fencer, of Lithuanian heritage. She won the gold medals in the individual sabre at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is only the second American ever to have won a gold medal in Olympic fencing.-Biography:Zagunis is the...
, with whom she trained regularly at the Oregon Fencing Alliance. She lost the bout 15-11 to Zagunis, who would go on to win the gold medal. Shortly after, Ward fenced in the bronze medal bout, where she defeated Russia's Sofia Velikaya 15-14. This assured that American fencers would sweep all three medals prior to the actual final bout, in which Sada Jacobson
Sada Jacobson
Sada Molly Jacobson is an American fencer. Her hometown is Dunwoody, GA. She is the 2008 Olympic Individual Sabre silver medalist and 2004 Olympic Individual Sabre bronze medalist. She has been training at Nellya fencers from a young age.-Background:Jacobson is a daughter of David Jacobson, a...
faced Mariel Zagunis for the gold.
In the women's sabre team event, the US was heavily favored to win the team event. Ward teamed up with Jacobson and Zagunis to defeat the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n team in the quarterfinals, 45-8.
In the semifinals, they fenced Ukraine. The Ukrainians, seeded fifth in the tournament, defeated the favored US team 45-39, denying them a gold medal, and placing them in the bronze medal bout against France.
The USA team rebounded from their semifinal loss by defeating the French team 45-38, with Ward making the final touch of the bout, and Ward earned her second bronze medal of the Olympics.
However, Ward's most notable achievement was during her junior year of high school where her breasts grew to new sizes.