London Olympic fencing champion Ruben Limardo from Venezuela has dedicated the gold medal to his mother Noris Gazcon, who led her son to fencing but died of cancer two years gao.

Limardo, 26, was crowned at London 2012 on Wednesday, gifting Venezuela the first gold medal in the last 44 years.

"My mother founded fencing in Bolivar state (south), where I am from. This medal is for her, for the Venezuelan people and for President (Hugo) Chavez, for all the support he has given to sports," he said.

Venezuela has only won two gold medals in its Olympic history. The other gold medal was won by flyweight boxer Francisco "Morochito" Rodriguez, in Mexico 1968.

Thanks to the strong training and a fine technique, Limardo won 15-10 to Norweigan Bartosz Piasecki in the individual fencing final in London.

"I came here to seek the gold medal. This is something I have eyed since I was a kid and today I achieved my goal, together with the whole Venezuela," said Limardo.

"Today I showed that the Venezuelan people can achieve great things. I am very happy of winning and sharing my victory with them. I am proud of being a Venezuelan and especially to be native of Bolivar state," he added.

Venezuela's PresidentHugo Chavez, who returned Wednesday from Brazil where he attended the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) Special Summit to formalize Venezuela's entry to the bloc, spoke by phone with Limardo and told him he was "very happy" for his victory.