Paris 2024 Olympics: Americans Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs Win Fencing Gold and Silver

Lee Keifer Is First American Woman to Win Two Fencing Golds

In the women’s individual fencing gold medal match, one competitor had to win, and the other had to lose. But in a rare event, Team USA could not lose, as the two finalists, Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs, were both from the United States.

Ultimately, Kiefer, the defending gold medalist in the women’s individual fencing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, won, defeating Scruggs 15-6. She is the first American woman and only the third woman in history to win two fencing gold medals.

Scruggs scored the first touch, but she was soon overwhelmed by Kiefer, who was fast and relentless. While Scruggs camped at two points, Kiefer continued to attack and attack, bringing her closer and closer to the gold. Scruggs was able to get a few more touches on Kiefer, but by then Kiefer had pulled away.

Kiefer, 30, is the daughter of two fencers. Two of her siblings are fencers. And she is married to a fencer on Team USA. She calls Lexington, Kentucky, home and spent more than two years in medical school at the University of Kentucky before taking a break before the 2020 Olympics to focus entirely on fencing.

Scruggs doesn’t have as much Olympic experience as Kiefer, who has competed in four Olympics. This is Scruggs’ first Olympics, but it may not be her last. Born in Queens, New York, she is a senior at Harvard and will graduate in 2025. She has won the NCAA championship and is just one of two black fencers to win a world championship for the United States.