China's Zhang Lei reacts to losing the Women's individual Foil round of 16 match to Italy's Maria Valentina Vezzali (unseen) on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center, as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Vezzali won 10-7. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Spectators at the fencing competition at the Olympics are often treated to some dramatic, emotional scenes - played out by passionate competitors dressed all in white, hi-tech gear, meeting inside a large darkened stadium. It also makes for some dramatic imagery, which I'll share with you here -- 16 scenes from recent women's fencing matches in Beijing. ( 16 photos total



Indra Angad-Gaur of the Netherlands (L) competes against Egypt's Iman El Gammal during the Women's individual Foil elimination round of 64 match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center in Beijing. Angad-Gaur won 13-4. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Mariel Zagunis of the United States celebrates her victory against compatriot Sada Jacobson during the women's individual sabre final match on August 9, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention Center in Beijing. Zagunis won the match and the gold medal. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Italy's Giovanna Trillini (L) hits Korea's Nam Hyunhee during the Women's individual Foil semi-final 1 match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center. Nam won 15-10. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Zhang Lei of China celebrates her victory against Malgorzata Wojtkowiak of Poland during their women's individual foil fencing competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 11, 2008. (REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi)



China's Zhang Lei (L) competes with Poland's Malgorzata Wojtkowiak during the Women's individual Foil elimination round on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center. Zhang won 15-8. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)



Giovanna Trillini of Italy and Nam Hyunhee of South Korea compete in the semifinals of the women's individual foil fencing event at the Fencing Hall on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)



Maria Valentina Vezzali of Italy celebrates winning the women's fencing individual foil gold medal match over Nam Hyunhee of South Korea (not pictured) at the Fencing Hall on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008. (Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)



Italy's Giovanna Trillini (L) competes against Cuba's Misleydis Company during the Women's individual Foil elimination round of 32 match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center, as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Trillini won 15-7. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Italy's Maria Valentina Vezzali (L) competes against China's Zhang Lei during the Women's individual Foil elimination round of 16 match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center. Vezzali won 10-7. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Italy's Margherita Granbassi looks dejected after losing the Women's individual Foil semi-final 2 match to fellow countrywoman Maria Valentina Vezzali on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center. Vezzali won 12-3. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)



China's Zhang Lei (L) competes against Italy's Maria Valentina Vezzali during the Women's individual Foil round of 16 match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center, as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Vezzali won 10-7. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Korea's Nam Hyunhee celebrates after defeating Italy's Giovanna Trillini (unseen) in the Women's individual Foil semi-final 1 match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center. Nam won 15-10. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)



Korea's Nam Huynhee (L) competes against Italy's Maria Valentina Vezzali during the Women's individual Foil final match on August 11, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention center. Vezzali won the event ahead of Korea's Nam Huynhee and fellow countrywoman Margharita Granbassi. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)



Tunisia's Azza Besbes cries on the floor following her quarterfinals defeat in the Womens Individual Sabre at the Fencing Hall of the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)



Italy's Maria Valentina Vezzali (L) and fellow countrywoman Margherita Granbassi bite their medals on the podium after they respectively won gold and bronze in the Women's individual Foil tournament on August 11, 2008. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)

More links and information:

Fencing Results - Official Olympics statistics

Vezzali wins record third foil gold - China Post, 8/12