Ruben Limardo snared Venezuela's first-ever Olympic fencing medal on Wednesday, winning the gold medal match in the men's individual epee.

The win came 44 years after Francisco Rodriguez became Venezuela’s first and only gold medalist as a boxer (Men’s Light Flyweight) at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

Venezuela has only ever won 12 medals of any color in total. It is now two gold, two silver and eight bronze.

Limardo beat Norway's Bartosz Piasecki 15-10 in the title bout.

Limardo was the 12th seed coming into the tournament, reaching its final after a series of major upsets.

"I feel all the joy in the world. I visualized the whole competition. I knew I was going to win it," he said.

I dedicate this medal to my mother who is the sky. She was a psychologist and she taught me how to concentrate. Although she's not here to share this happiness with me, my mother is still my main engine."

South Korean fencer Jung Jinsun won bronze earlier, edging out Seth Kelsey of the United States.

Jung led for most of the match before Kelsey forced him to overtime with a late rally, only for the South Korean to land the decisive stroke for a 12-11 win.