PARIS − A pair of American ladies fencers on Sunday evening gained a pair of coveted Olympic medals – one gold and one silver.
Lee Kiefer beat teammate Lauren Scruggs on the Paris Video games within the ultimate bout of the ladies’s particular person foil competitors that showcased U.S. expertise.
Arguably, among the greatest fencing expertise the US has ever produced.
It was on show not solely within the golden medal bout – which Kiefer gained 15-6 – however in the course of the daylong competitors that ended with an All-American ultimate.
Kiefer stands solely 5-4 and 110 kilos. However she is a powerhouse.
2024 Olympic medals: Who’s main the medal rely? Observe alongside as we observe the medals for each sport.
She gained gold within the foil on the Tokyo Video games in 2021, and right here she defended that Olympic title whereas turning into solely the second U.S. fencer to win two Olympic gold medals in particular person competitors. She is married to Gerek Meinhardt, a five-time U.S. Olympic fencer who’s competing right here and was available to rejoice.
Contained in the cavernous Grand Palais Sunday evening, nonetheless, the second went past the 30-year-old Kiefer.
It marked the primary All-American ultimate within the particular person foil in Olympic historical past, and for that U.S. fencing additionally should thank Scruggs, the 21-year-old Harvard scholar from Queens, N.Y.
A primary-time Olympian, Scruggs was not anticipated to contend for gold. However when the competitors started Sunday, Scruggs dispatched one opponent after one other − 4 in whole.
Till she reached Kiefer.
Nobody might get previous Kiefer.
Nonetheless, Scruggs gained a silver medal in a bout that shined a lightweight on two distinctive paths.
Kiefer grew up in Kentucky and developed world-class abilities in a state a bit of higher recognized for basketball than fencing. She is a four-time Olympian who has a call to make: hold fencing, or return to medical faculty after an prolonged break to chase these Olympic desires?
If Kiefer retires, Scruggs may be the star in ready.
She skilled on the Peter Westbrook Basis, well-known for introducing the game to kids of coloration in New York.
Scruggs, who’s Black, distinguished herself internationally on the youth circuit. She was adequate to make the group at Harvard in 2021. Adequate to win an NCAA championship in foil final yr. And resulted in an All-American embrace, with Kiefer and Scruggs hugging after the historic bout.