By Mark Garrod
Italy's version of the "Dream Team" did what was expected of them in the Olympic fencing tournament on Thursday, adding team gold to the three individual medals they won on Saturday in the women's foil.
Valentina Vezzali, Elisa Di Francisca - now a double gold medal-winner in London - and new world No. 1 Arianna Errigo were in unstoppable form all day and took the title with a 45-31 victory over Russia.
That was especially sweet. The Russians were the defending champions, having defeated Italy by a single point - 22-21 - in the semi-finals in Beijing 2008.
They even felt comfortable enough to bring on substitute Ilaria Salvatori for one bout near the end so she too could receive a gold.
She lost it 9-5, but it did not matter - their only other defeat in 27 three-minute contests during the entire competition was Vezzali's in the very last head-to-head.
Bronze went to South Korea after they got the better of France 45-32, while hosts Great Britain finished eighth, beating Egypt, but then losing to Italy, Poland and Japan.
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