The 22-year-old fencer made a slow start to the final against the top seed Velikaya, who moved into a 8-5 lead at the halfway mark of the contest.

The sixth seeded Egorian kept her composure and began to work her way back into the tie against her more experienced opponent to tie the match at 12-12.

Egorian was forced to hold her nerve once more when Velikaya moved into a 14-13 lead, putting her on the brink of victory.

The 31-year-old world champion was unable to secure the crucial point she needed, though, and Egorian claimed the final two of the contest to emerge as a 15-14 winner.

Velikaya, winner of two world and four European individual titles, has now finished as the silver medallist in the event at two consecutive Olympic Games, having also been the runner-up at London 2012. 

"I'm feeling like the happiest person in the world,” said Egorian.

"I can't describe this; I don't have the words, I have different feelings in my soul.

"This is not just my medal, this is Sofiya’s medal too, because we have been working together, training together.

"When you are 14-14, it's like a snap.

“It just depends on who's the luckiest, it's all matter of luck in these situations.”

Egorian had advantage to the gold medal contest by defeating Olga Kharlan, but the Ukrainian bounced back to win the bronze medal contest.

The 25-year-old, the London 2012 bronze medallist, defeated France’s Manon Brunet 15-10.