American fencer Lee Kiefer clinched her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in foil fencing at the Paris 2024 Games, adding to her already illustrious career. Kiefer defeated her teammate Lauren Scruggs 15-6 in the final, a victory that was not just a personal triumph but a historic moment for American fencing. Scruggs’ silver medal marked the first time a Black fencer from the United States won an individual Olympic fencing medal.
Lee Kiefer Wins Back-to-Back Olympic Gold as French Swimmer Leon Marchand Breaks Michael Phelps’ Record
Kiefer’s win was especially poignant as she dedicated it to her late coach, Buckie Leach, who guided her to gold in Tokyo but tragically died in a motorcycle accident shortly thereafter. “He would be so happy for me,” Kiefer said. “This one’s for him.” The victory also showcased the strong support Kiefer received from Mariel Zagunis, the only other American fencer to win back-to-back Olympic golds in the same event. “Mariel has been incredibly supportive, helping me stay empowered,” Kiefer noted.
The final between Kiefer and Scruggs was a moment of historic significance, as it was the first all-American fencing final since 2008 and only the second since 1904. Scruggs, a 21-year-old Harvard student from Queens, New York, was overwhelmed by her success. “It’s shocking and super grateful,” she said. Scruggs hopes her achievement will inspire more young Black fencers to enter the sport.
In the world of swimming, French swimmer Leon Marchand achieved his own milestone by breaking Michael Phelps’ long-standing Olympic record in the 400m Individual Medley. Marchand’s time of 4:02.95 not only earned him his first Olympic gold but also shattered Phelps’ record of 4:03.84 set in Beijing in 2008.
The 22-year-old’s remarkable performance followed his record-breaking swim at the 2023 World Championships, where he set a new world record of 4:02.50. Phelps, who was in attendance, acknowledged the eventual breaking of his record with a sense of inevitability and respect for the emerging talent.
Marchand’s victory was celebrated by a vibrant crowd at the Paris Aquatic Centre, adding to the excitement of the Games. Matsushita Tomoyuki of Japan won silver with a time of 4:08.62, while the USA’s Carson Foster took bronze with 4:08.66. Marchand’s success continued his rise in the swimming world, having first gained attention with his performances at the 2019 World and European Junior Championships.
In other events, Canadian fencer Eleanor Harvey made history by winning the first Olympic fencing medal for Canada, clinching bronze with a 15-12 victory over Italy’s Alice Volpi. Japanese fencer Koki Kano secured his country’s first individual Olympic fencing gold by defeating France’s Yannick Borel 15-9. Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt won bronze in the men’s epee after a dramatic overtime bout against Hungary’s Tibor Andrasfi.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics unfold, these moments of historical achievement reflect the ever-evolving landscape of global sports, celebrating both individual excellence and the collective progress of athletes from around the world.
