Lee Kiefer won back-to-back gold medals in foil fencing, while her colleague Lauren Scruggs claimed silver on Sunday, becoming the first Black fencer to win an Olympic medal in an individual women’s sport in the United States.
Kiefer defeated Scruggs 15-6 in the final and celebrated by gleefully pirouetting down the slope. Knowing that the U.S. national anthem will be played regardless of the outcome “took the pressure off,” Kiefer said.
The boisterous audience in the vast Grand Palais was a stark contrast to the quiet, empty stadium in Chiba, Japan, where Kiefer won her maiden Olympic gold three years ago under pandemic restrictions.
Kiefer dedicated her victory to Buckie Leach, who had guided her to gold in Tokyo but died 20 days later in a motorbike accident. “He would be so happy for me,” she remarked. “This one is for him. In fact, I have a photo of him on my village wall.
Kiefer’s gold medal is the seventh in an individual event for an American fencer. She is the only American fencer who has won gold in the same event twice, joining Mariel Zagunis in 2004 and 2008.
“Mariel, who did it before me, has been supporting me and being a really important person to keep me feeling important and seen and empowered these past years, so I really want to thank her for being that person,” she added.
There has not been an all-U.S. final in an Olympic fencing event since 2008 when Zagunis defeated Sada Jacobson in saber as part of an American podium sweep. Previously, it had not occurred since 1904.
“I’m definitely more happy than disappointed,” Scruggs added. “I believe it was surprising for me to be here in the first place, so I don’t think I’ve had time to digest losing if I’m honest. Just surprising, and I’m really appreciative.”
Scruggs, a 21-year-old Harvard student from Queens, New York, has continued his meteoric ascension to the top of the international fencing rankings.
“Maybe two years ago, I really thought I could make the team, until last year, I made my first senior team,” she told me. “So to come out here and medal is just insane.”
Scruggs said her desire to encourage future Black fencers and demonstrate “that they have a place in the sport.” Kiefer is a member of a distinguished Olympic power duo.
Gerek Meinhardt, Kiefer’s husband and a two-time Olympic bronze winner in men’s foil, will participate in two events in Paris. Kiefer and Meinhardt are University of Kentucky medical students who have taken a leave of absence to pursue their Olympic goals.
When asked about her future, Kiefer recounted her and Meinhardt’s last activities in Paris. “That’s as far as we’re thinking for now,” she informed us. Eleanor Harvey became the first Canadian to earn an Olympic fencing medal, defeating Alice Volpi of Italy 15-12 for bronze.
On Sunday, Japan’s Koki Kano defeated France’s Yannick Borel 15-9 to win the men’s epee gold medal. Japan won its first gold medal in an individual Olympic fencing event.
The noisy home audience had to settle for silver for the second day after Auriane Mallo-Breton lost in the women’s epee final on Saturday. Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt defeated Hungary’s Tibor Andrasfi 8-7 in overtime to win the bronze medal.
