U.S. Women’s Team Foil Wins Gold For the First Time In The Sport’s History

PARIS — When the U.S. and Italian women fencers took to the strip on Thursday night for the final team foil event, they both had something to prove.

Despite being ranked number one, Team Italy’s women had been unable to secure an individual medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The number two American women — which consisted of Lee Kiefer, Jackie Dubrovich, Lauren Scruggs and Maia Weintraub — were looking for payback after the Italians kept them off the podium in Tokyo, losing 23-45 in the bronze medal match.

With both teams comprised of two returning Olympians, the thirst for gold could be felt by everyone in attendance at the sold-out Le Grand Palais.

After an exciting nine rounds — where the Americans came out on top every time — it was the individual foil silver medalist, Scruggs who touched for the last point to take the gold and complete the match with a score of 45-39.

“You never think it will happen so it was crazy to just do that,” Scruggs said during a press conference following the bout. “To get that last winning touch, it was surreal.”

Fellow first-time Olympian Weintraub — who subbed in on the third round — wasn’t nervous about coming in during a final as she said she is used to it.

“They love to do that to me,” the 21-year-old joked, “just throw me in. I had a lot of faith in myself and in my team and I know we’ve been working for this for a really long time.”

This is the U.S.’s second Olympic medal in this event, but the first gold after Team USA took silver in the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.

Two-time Olympian Dubrovich shared that this gold medal was extra special because this competition would be her last.

“I put a lot of things on hold and I’m very content with this being my last time,” the 30-year-old said. “I have been engaged now for five years, so it’s time to get married, time to start thinking about kids, and then my professional career as well I put on hold. Just a lot of things I want to pursue outside of sports.”

Kiefer, the most seasoned of the group, is familiar with putting your life on hold for your sport, pushing medical school after Tokyo so she could focus on Paris — and finally getting the team medal that has eluded her in the past.

“We have been dreaming of gold for three years since the last Olympics and have been slowly working and trying to be positive and confident,” the four-time Olympian said. The first time she competed in the event at an Olympics was in London where they placed sixth.

Now that she’s done it, she’s unsure what the future holds.

“I’m just thinking about this medal and I’m going to shut off for a couple of months,” the defending individual foil champion explained. With her two gold in Paris, she becomes the first U.S. fencer in history with three Olympic gold medals.

Be sure to catch the last three days of parrying action before Olympic fencing concludes on August 4.

Lisa Costantini has covered Olympic and Paralympic sports for more than a decade, including for the International Olympic Committee. She is a freelance writer who has contributed to TeamUSA.com since 2011.