RIO DE JANEIRO (August 8) – Twelve-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson was the latest high-profile guest to visit the Carioca Arena 3 this week.
The sprinting legend dropped into the venue on Sunday to catch the men’s individual foil final, which was won by Daniele Garozzo. The Italian beat world No. 1 Alexander Massialas of the United States by a score of 15-11 for his first title of any kind.
Track star Johnson, 48, won his Olympic gold medals at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games in the 200m, 400m and 4 x 400m relay. His son is a fencer.
Sunil Sabharwal, the Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund and a former International Fencing Federation Executive Committee member, also called in on the fencing.
Johnson and Sabharwal had a protocol photograph with Donald K. Anthony Jr., the President of USA Fencing and a member of the FIE Executive Committee.
Among the guests on Saturday, the first day of competition, were Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, His Royal Highness Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and His Excellency Sheikh Saoud Al Thani of Qatar.