On August 1st, a group of Americans created history in the sport of fencing from Paris.

A gold medal was awarded to the United States of America women’s foil team on Thursday at the Grand Palais during the 2024 Summer Olympics. The team, which consists of Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Jackie Dubrovich, and Maia Weintraub, won the competition.

After claiming victory against Canada earlier in the day, Team USA went on to overcome Italy by a score of 45-39, so securing either a gold or silver medal.

It has been sixteen years since the last time the women have won a medal in this competition, and this triumph is also the first time that the United States of America has ever won a gold medal as a team in the women’s foil fencing competition.

Earlier in the week, Kiefer, a member of the team, triumphed in the solo foil competition and took home the gold medal. This is a momentous occasion for him. She presently holds the record for the most medals won by a foil fencer from the United States, with a total of three medals, including the first gold from the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Additionally, Lauren Scruggs earned a second medal as a result of her victory. In the individual final, she was defeated by Kiefer and received a silver medal.

Kiefer made the following statement on the victory at a news conference that took place after the match on Thursday: “We have been dreaming of gold for three years, since the last Olympics, and just been slowly working… you just hope, you don’t expect.”

“Women’s foil, we’ve had many incredible fencers in previous generations … we just knew that this was possible,” Dubrovich said, pointing out that it was a “testament to the hard work that we’ve put into this.”

Gerek Meinhardt, who is married to Kiefer, will be competing in the men’s team foil final as part of the competition on August 4. During an interview that was conducted by Kiefer and published on July 27 by the Los Angeles Times, she said that her spouse was a contributing factor to her ongoing success.

“Because of him, I think I’m more of a dynamic fencer and try to be creative,” she said in response. “And I have taught him how to be scrappy and dirty.”

By Anna

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