( CNN ) -- Amid the sensational wins of the first half of the London Olympics , here are some less-celebrated but no less impressive victories that you might have missed . 1 . GUATEMALA won its very first Olympic medal in history , when Erick Barrando won silver in the 20 km race walk . The country first participated in the Games in 1952 . 2 . ITALY overtook France to claim the highest number of fencing medals overall in Olympics history . Italy 's fencing medal count now stands at 121 to the 115 held by France , which failed to take home a fencing medal for the first time since 1960 . With her six gold medals , Italy 's Valentina Vezzali also made Olympic history by becoming the most decorated female fencer . Olympics : What to look for on Day 10 . 3 . Other fencers also made Olympic history for their national teams , including Reuben Limbardo Gascon , who won VENEZUELA 's first fencing goldâ€ ” and the country 's first gold medal since 1968 . Silver medalist Bartosz Piasecki won NORWAY 's first fencing medal . Blog : Follow the Olympics in real time . 4 . SOUTH KOREA 's fencer , Shin A Lam , picked herself up to win silver in the team event , after she sat on the piste in tears earlier in the week after losing the women 's epee semifinal over a disputed final hit . 5 . NORTH KOREA has won four medals in weightliftingâ€ ” three of them gold . Om Yun Choi and Kim Un Guk triumphed in the men 's 56 kg and 62 kg events , the first time the nation has won an Olympic medal for men 's weightlifting since 1992 . Rim Jong Sim followed a few days later with a victory in the women 's 69 kg event . 6 . HONG KONG cyclist Wai Sze Lee won a bronze in women 's keirin , the first medal awarded in the London Olympics to Hong Kong . It was also the third Olympics medal ever won by the special administrative region of China , which has independently competed in the summer Olympics since 1952 . 7 . BELARUS won its first gold medal in tennis , triumphing in the mixed doubles event , which returned to the Olympics after an 88-year absence . Olympics : Best photos . 8 . Women 's boxing made its debut in the London Olympics , bringing 36 female boxers from 23 nations across three weight divisions to the ring . In the 75 kg division , NIGERIA 's Edith Ogoke defeated 2012 world championship silver medalist Elena Vystropova , making her one to watch in Monday 's quarterfinals . CNN 's Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report .
Guatemala won its first Olympic medal in history . Italy surpassed China to win most fencing medals overall in Olympic history . Venezuela won first fencing gold -- and first gold medal since 1992 . Hong Kong won gold in women 's keirin -- team 's third gold ever .