If this was Lee Kiefer’s final appearance on the competitive fencing scene, she could hardly have asked for a more memorable send-off. The 30-year-old medical student hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, etched her name into the annals of fencing history on Sunday night, clawing her way to a second consecutive Olympic gold in the women’s individual foil, triumphing with a stunning 15-6 victory over younger teammate Lauren Scruggs in an exceptional all-American final.
In a remarkable display of perseverance, Scruggs, the 21-year-old Queens native and an up-and-coming Harvard senior, also made history by becoming the first Black American fencer to earn an individual medal in a women’s event.
With a sense of urgency that suggested a taxi was waiting, Kiefer delivered a masterclass in speed, footwork, timing, stamina, and mental resilience with the ultimate prize at stake. Overcoming an early 1-2 deficit, she rattled off six consecutive points, eventually claiming seven of the final eight points, sealing the match with a full 40 seconds left in the first period. It truly was a performance for the ages.
“No matter how much I tried to prepare, there’s still so much pressure I put on myself to just fence well and stay present,” Kiefer reflected afterward, her joy palpable. “Each day was a rollercoaster, but here we are at the top.”
Ultimately, it was Kiefer’s extraordinary speed that left Scruggs chasing shadows on the piste. The defending champion skillfully dismantled her opponent with a full array of attacks, parry-ripostes, and stop-hits, as the match rapidly became a one-sided affair.
Upon clinching the final point, Kiefer ripped off her mask and leapt into the air, celebrating her victory. She embraced Scruggs before joining Amgad Khazbak, her longtime coach who recognized her potential nearly two decades ago in Kentucky. Together, they paraded along the piste, waving an American flag as Kiefer blew kisses to a large section of family and friends, including her husband of five years, Gerek Meinhardt—a fellow fencing champion aiming to enhance their family’s accolades in the upcoming men’s individual foil competition.
Three years prior, Kiefer became just the second American woman to secure an individual Olympic fencing gold by defeating the reigning women’s foil champion, Inna Deriglazova, in a nearly vacant venue on the outskirts of Tokyo. That victory marked only the third gold medal in US fencing history, a sport that has been featured in every modern Olympic Games since 1896.
Now, Kiefer has achieved back-to-back Olympic victories, joining Mariel Zagunis as the only American fencers to win gold in the same event on two occasions.
“In my first gold, I truly didn’t expect to compete at that level against the Russians and Italians,” Kiefer noted. “So to achieve this again is a wonderful surprise. I believe my skills have matured over the years, and it has become a daily mental challenge to stay positive and focus on the finer details. The pressure I placed on myself was intense, making the victory that much sweeter.”
Kiefer’s remarkable title defense is just the latest milestone in a life characterized by challenges overcome. A four-time NCAA champion at Notre Dame, the Filipino-American fencer didn’t capture Olympic gold until her third attempt, having finished fifth in London 2012 and tenth in Rio 2016.
While pursuing her studies at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine alongside Meinhardt, the self-described “shy and reserved individual” has emerged as a dedicated advocate for reproductive justice, volunteering with the Kentucky Health Justice Network—a nonprofit organization that facilitates funding and education for Kentuckians seeking abortion care—especially following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
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Having temporarily paused her academic pursuits to focus on training for her fourth Olympic Games, Kiefer plans to resume her studies next year. However, after such an extraordinary display, the allure of defending her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games must be significant.
“Right now, I’m focusing on Gerek’s event tomorrow, our team event, and the men’s foil team event,” Kiefer said. “That’s as far into the future as I’m willing to think for the moment.”
If indeed this marks the conclusion of Kiefer’s competitive journey, the future of American fencing looks bright with Scruggs, who stunned the Italian favorite Arianna Errigo in the quarter-finals and was brought to tears after winning her semi-final against Canada’s Eleanor Harvey 15-9, securing at least a silver medal. Simply making it to the Olympic final has capped an incredible journey for the native New Yorker, who had ranked 25th in her only world championships a year ago.
Kiefer, despite being seeded second but ranked No. 1 in the latest world rankings and navigating the preliminary rounds with ease earlier that day, faced a tough battle in her semi-final against Italy’s Alice Volpi—a clash between two of the top fencers of their generation. Though Volpi had entered the match with a 67% win rate against Kiefer, the American remained composed and secured her place in the final.
Meanwhile, Eleanor Harvey completed a North American sweep, triumphing 15-12 over Volpi in the bronze medal match, which left Volpi understandably disappointed after finishing fourth for the second consecutive Olympics.
