The 24-year-old Sicilian boasted a best individual championship performance of silver at the 2015 European Championships heading into the day.

But he belied his relatively humble status as 11th seed by producing a series of superb performances.

He dispatched powerful Russian Timur Safin at the last-four stage to set up a final with world number one Alexander Massialas of United States.

There was nothing between the two in the early stages, by Garozzo gradually edged clear with six successful hits in row.

With shouts of "Italia" reverberating around the arena, he moved to the cusp of victory at 14-8 before a late American fightback.

He eventually scored the winning point for a 15-11 victory before ripping off his mask and charging towards the crowd, jumping into the arms of his coach and roaring in delight.

Officials forced him back to the strip to officially award him the 15th and decisive final point, before celebrations resumed with even more gusto.

"I think it's impossible," he said afterwards. 

"I really can't believe what's happening now. 

"If you told me this yesterday, I wouldn't believe it.

"This is the best day of my life - it's a dream come true."

His victory was Italy's ninth title in the men's foil event, and the first for 20 years since Alessandro Puccini triumphed at Atlanta 1996.

Massialas still performed well to become the first US man to win an individual fencing medal for 32 years, although it was not the colour he wanted.

He had earlier recovered from 14-8 down to win seven straight points and shock another Italian in Giorgio Avola.

Safin hung-on for bronze with a 15-13 victory over Britain's Richard Kruse, who had been seeking his country's first Olympic fencing for 64 years.

All three medal winners will now return to the piste on Friday (July 12) for the men's team competition, where Italy, the US and Russia will each be among the favourites.