Russian women fencers stunned their U.S. rivals 28-11 here Saturday to pocket foil team event gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The bronze medal went to Italy which defeated Hungary.

The final bout was apparently lop-sided. Russia's Svetlana Boyko alone made 13 hits for the team's victory. On the U.S. side, Emily Cross scored 8 points, and her two teammates shared the rest of 3 points.

"It's Boyko! She made the last points against Italy (in semifinal) and the United States, and she did it very well. She's like a mother for us," said Russia's Nikichina Victoria after the match.

Boyko, the 36-year-old fencer, said she would retire after the Games.

"It was a hard day. We won gold, not against the United States, but against Italy. I waited 16 years and four Olympics for this. It was my last chance, as I'm going to retire," she told reporters.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)