PARIS - In an historic moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics, two American fencers, Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs, made their mark in the women's foil final. Both athletes brought home medals for Team USA: Kiefer claimed her second gold medal with a score of 15-13 against Scruggs in the final match.
Kiefer, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and defending champion, dedicated her win to her late coach Buckie Leach who died in a motorcycle accident. She expressed that the pressure was off knowing that either she or Scruggs would represent the United States on the podium.
Scruggs, who became the first Black woman from the United States to win an individual Olympic fencing medal, finished with a silver medal. She aims to inspire young Black fencers and show them they have a place in the sport.
Fencing has been part of the Olympics since its inception in 1896 and has been included in every Summer Games since then. Historically, Italy, France, and Hungary have dominated the sport but Asian nations and the United States have recently broken through with medals.
The women's foil final was a thrilling display of skill and determination as both Kiefer and Scruggs showcased their agility on the piste. The crowd in the Grand Palais roared as they watched history being made, with Team USA taking home two medals.
Kiefer's victory marks her second gold medal in women's foil at the Olympics, making her one of only three American fencers to win Olympic gold medals. Scruggs finished with a silver medal and became the first Black woman from the United States to win an individual Olympic fencing medal.
The 2024 Paris Olympics have seen a total of 212 fencers compete, with half being men and half women. The competitions are designated by blades: foil, epee, and sabre. Fencers use a thrusting motion to score in foil and epee competitions while using a slashing motion for sabre.
In the individual competition, bouts are divided into three periods of three minutes each. The first fencer to score 15 touches on their opponent wins the bout. In team competition, there are nine individual bouts with each bout lasting three minutes or until five touches are scored. The highest-scoring team wins the match.
Asian nations and the United States have been making strides in Olympic fencing, challenging European dominance in recent years.
