First US medal a silver in archery at 2012 London Olympics

GlobalPost

The first US medal at the 2012 London Olympics is a silver in archery

After dispatching a perennial favorite, American archers could only watch as Italy won gold with its final arrow at the Summer Games today.

With the US leading in the last round, Italian Michele Frangilli struck a perfect 10 to snatch the gold medal in the men’s team final at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Italy, with Marco Galiazzo and Mauro Nespoli, defeated Americans Jake Kaminski, Brady Ellison and Jacob Wukie 219-218.

The Americans advanced to the head-to-head final with a stunning defeat of three-time defending Olympic champion South Korea.

The South Koreans led by two points after the first round, but the Americans surged from there to win 224-219.

More from GlobalPost: The 2012 London Olympics

“It was a great feeling, but there is one more match to go,” American coach Lee Ki-sik told Reuters after the semifinal.

“We treat every match like a gold-medal match. One at a time, when it’s over it’s gone, finished, on to the next one.”

Lee formerly led the South Korean team and coached Australian Simon Fairweather to gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

South Korea defeated Mexico for bronze.

Since 1972, South Koreans have won 16 gold medals and 30 overall.

More from GlobalPost: China wins first gold at 2012 London Olympics 

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