Mariel Zagunis, USA fencing team take home bronze medal at 2016 Rio Olympics

Beaverton native Mariel Zagunis and the USA fencing team have taken home the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

After falling short in the individual medal rounds earlier in the week, Zagunis mentioned to reporters that the U.S. would be "really fired up" for the team event.

She was right on with that prediction.

The Americans opened against Poland, blowing an 11-point lead before their two-time Olympic champion, Zagunis, got the U.S. through with a deft torso touch for the win.

After falling to Russia in the next round, Zagunis and her teammates -- Ibtihaj Muhammad, Dagmara Wozniak and Monica Aksamit -- routed Italy 45-30 to clinch third place and the first women's medal in fencing for the Americans in Rio de Janeiro.

Zagunis is a Valley Catholic High School graduate and previously earned an individual saber gold in Athens and an individual gold and team bronze medal four years later in Beijing. She was a flag bearer for the U.S. at the London Olympics but did not medal in 2012.

Following the win and a trip back to the podium to receive the bronze medal with her team, Zagunis declined to speculate on her future in the immediate aftermath of her fourth straight Olympics.

Will we see her compete again in 2020? We'll have to wait and see.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report -

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