Lee Kiefer has secured back-to-back gold medals in foil fencing, and her teammate Lauren Scruggs made history as the first Black fencer to win an Olympic medal in an individual women’s event for the United States by taking silver on Sunday.
Lee Kiefer Historic All-U.S. Final
Lee Kiefer triumphed with a commanding 15-6 victory over Scruggs, celebrating by joyfully pirouetting down the piste. Knowing the U.S. anthem would play after the final no matter what “took the pressure off,” Kiefer said.
The atmosphere in the Grand Palais was a stark contrast to the hushed, empty venue in Chiba, Japan, where Lee Kiefer won her first Olympic gold three years ago under pandemic restrictions.
Dedication to Late Coach Buckie Leach
Kiefer dedicated her win to Buckie Leach, her coach who led her to gold in Tokyo but tragically died 20 days later in a motorcycle accident. “He would be so happy for me,” she said. “This one’s for him. I even have a picture of him on my wall in the village.”
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Continuing American Fencing Legacy
Lee Kiefer gold medal is the fifth for a U.S. fencer in an individual event. She follows Mariel Zagunis, who won gold in 2004 and 2008, as the only American fencers to win gold in the same event twice. “Mariel has been a tremendous support, keeping me feeling important and seen these past years,” Kiefer said, expressing her gratitude.
Lauren Scruggs’ Remarkable Journey
Scruggs’ silver medal marks a rapid ascent in world fencing. The 21-year-old Harvard student from Queens, New York, expressed her gratitude and surprise at her achievement. “I think that it was shocking for me to be here in the first place,” Scruggs said. “So to come out here and medal is just insane.”
Scruggs aims to inspire young Black fencers, showing them they have a place in the sport.
Lee Kiefer is part of a decorated Olympic power couple. Her husband, Gerek Meinhardt, is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in men’s foil and will compete in two events in Paris. Both are medical students at the University of Kentucky, taking leave from their studies to pursue their Olympic dreams. Kiefer said their focus is on their remaining events in Paris for now.
Other Notable Wins
Eleanor Harvey became the first Canadian to win an Olympic fencing medal by defeating Italy’s Alice Volpi 15-12 for the bronze.
In the men’s epee, Japan’s Koki Kano won gold by beating France’s Yannick Borel 15-9, marking Japan’s first gold in an individual Olympic fencing event. Egypt’s Mohamed Elsayed won bronze in overtime against Hungary’s Tibor Andrasfi with a score of 8-7.
Lee Kiefer’s second Olympic gold and Lauren Scruggs’ historic silver highlight the continued success and diversity of American fencing. With remarkable performances from both athletes, the future of U.S. fencing looks incredibly promising.
