Tokyo Olympics: Taiwanese Americans lead U.S. fencing team to a bronze medal.

USA FENCING

Alexander Massialas, 2nd from right, and Gerek Meinhardt, far right, were part of the U.S.
team winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Sunday.

After a close loss to the Russian Olympic Committee in the semifinals, the U.S. men's foil team rallied to beat Japan 45-31 in the bronze medal match. 

Two of the  fencers who took on the trio from the home team were Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt, were Taiwanese Americans. They were joined by Race Imboden with Nick Itkin also having competed up until the second leg of the quarterfinal. 

The bronze is the second fencing medal for Team USA after Filipino American Lee Kiefer won gold in the women's individual foil. 

It is also the second consecutive bronze for the American men -- Meinhardt, Massialas and Imboden -- after the team beat Italy in Rio de Janiero in 2016. 

In the semifinals, the U.S. were upset by the Russian team, 45-41 in a see-saw battle with the lead exchanging several times before the ROC team came from behind to beat the Americans.

USA FENCING

Filipino American fencer Lee Kiefer made history with her gold medal win in individual foil.

On Saturday, the U.S. women's foil team of Lee Kierfer, Jackie Dubrovich, Nicole Ross and Taiwanese American Sabrina Massialas, lost its bid for a bronze medal when  it lost to Italy, 45-23. The U.S. women fenced for the bronze after giving the ROC team its stiffest test of the evening by losing 45-42. The Russians went on to easily win the gold by beating France, 45-23.

In the women's gold medal match, France demolished the team representing the Russian Olympic Committee, 45-28.

Newly crowned Olympic champion Kiefer said they were heartbroken that the U.S. women didn't win a medal, but fought hard the whole way.

“We lived like a family for five months and of course we wanted that medal,” said Kiefer, a Filipino American. “We’ve had such a fulfilling, beautiful journey that none of us knew was possible. We've taken our fencing to places that I think are incredible. I am filled with pride for my teammates. It hurts right now but we left it all out there. We have no regrets whatsoever.”