Lee Keifer and Lauren Scruggs Make U.S. Fencing Olympic History With Gold And Silver Finishes

PARIS — The only thing that could have matched the impressiveness of the Grand Palais, the 127-year-old historic site posing as an Olympic venue, was the fencing taking place inside. 

For the first time in U.S. fencing history, Team USA not only had two Olympic semifinalists in women’s foil, but both athletes advanced to the goldmedal match where Lee Keifer walked away with a historic gold and Lauren Scruggs the silver. 

The last time Team USA women accomplished that was at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and in the discipline of sabre where they took all three spots on the podium, led by Mariel Zagunis. 

This was Keifer’s second gold in individual foil, setting a new record three years earlier in Tokyo when she won the first Olympic individual foil gold in American history.

The final match finished at 15-6 in Keifer’s favor, but it was Scruggs who scored the first point. With identical uniforms and matching American flag masks, it was like seeing double — if it wasn’t for Scruggs’ neon pink shoes it would have been hard to tell them apart. The next three points went back and forth with Keifer slowly increasing her lead until eventually becoming victorious.

Fencing one another was nothing new for the teammates as they were used to sparring in training camps and warming up together at team events, but Keifer explained why it was comforting to see a familiar face at the other end of the strip.

“Knowing that we’re going to have our anthem play it took the pressure off,” Keifer said, “because I knew it was going to be a celebration at the end regardless.”

Both women went undefeated throughout the tournament, but first-time Olympian Scruggs couldn’t hide her surprise every time she advanced.

“It was shocking for me to be here in the first place. I don’t even think I’ve had time to process that,” the 21-year-old said. “I’m just super grateful to be able to fence in front of such a big crowd and in such a beautiful space.”

Keifer was familiar with the venue, having competed in it 14 years earlier at a world championships when she was 16. 

“Nothing compares,” she emphasized when asked if she had ever competed in something so grand. 

Both athletes will compete again on Thursday in the women’s foil team event. 

For Keifer, who put off medical school to pursue a second gold, she isn’t trying to think too far beyond her fourth Olympics.

“I am trying to think about Gerek (Meinhardt's) event tomorrow and the team event and that’s as far into the future we’re thinking about right now,” the 30-year-old said about her husband and fellow Team USA fencer.

She now joins fellow female fencers with multiple gold medals in women’s individual foil and is the first American and only the third woman to repeat as Olympic champion in the event.

Securing the top spot on the podium she said was harder the second time around. “I think defending is always harder. The first time just feels like the stars align and the second time I don’t know if you can control things like that,” she said. Plus, she added, “My belief in my ability is stronger this time.”

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.