Fencer Alexander Massialas wins medal, earns honor

Fencer Alexander Massialas won a bronze medal at the Seoul Foil World Cup. The 17-year-old is the youngest athlete to medal at the event. It was his first podium finish outside North America.

He began the competition with a 15-3 win over Thailand's Nontapat Panchan. In the next round, he defeated Italy's Valerio Aspromonte, 15-14. He beat four-time senior world champion Peter Joppich from Germany, 15-11 and upset China's Liangliang Zhang, 15-9 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Massialas lost to three-time senior world medalist Andrea Baldini, from Italy, 15-6. Baldini would eventually win the gold medal. Richard Kruse of Great Britain won the silver medal. Russia's Artem Sedov also won bronze.

"Alexander fenced with great spirit today. Even though he was down in several key matches, he did not let things get to him. He stayed focused on the game plan and being ready to score the final touch in each match," said his coach and father Greg Massialas.

He is USA TODAY's Olympic Athlete of the Week.

Other athletes receiving consideration this week

The women's senior national water polo team swept the FINA World League prelims with a second win over Canada 11-5. Kami Craig had three goals and goalie Tumua Anae had 12 saves. Canada had a 3-1 lead going into the second period, but the U.S. quickly tied the score, then went ahead 4-3. Canada closed the gap to 5-4 in the second period, but the U.S. lead for the rest of the game.

U.S. men's and women's volleyball teams came away from the Prague Open with medals. Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won the silver medal. They lost to Brazil's Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti, second seeds in the tournament, 21-19, 21-14. Both teams had advanced to the final with 5-0 records.

This is the first loss for Dalhausser and Rogers in 40 matches.

Jen Kessy and April Ross took the bronze medal at the Myslowice Open another event on the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour. They defeated Germany's Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig 23-21, 21-15.

U.S. men's gymnasts finished second in the team competition at the 2011 Stella Zakharova Cup in Kiev, Ukraine. Alex Naddour, Jake Dalton and Steven Legendre earned a team total of 169.850. Ukraine finished first and Russia was third. Naddour was third in the all-around.

The team has been chosen to represent the U.S. at the upcoming world archery championships in Torino, Italy. Khatuna Lorig, Jennifer Nichols and Miranda Leek will compete in women's recurve. Brady Ellison, Jacob Wukie and Joseph Fanchin are the men's recurve team.

Jamie Van Natta, Christie Colin and Kailey Johnston will make up the women's compound team and Braden Gellenthien, Reo Wilde and Jesse Broadwater comprise the men's team. The competition begins July 3.

Sources: U.S. Olympic sports federations; wire reports