Lexington’s Lee Kiefer makes Olympic history winning first USA gold in individual foil fencing
LEXINGTON, Ky. (BVM) — With her deciding point against 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist Inna Derglazova of Russia, Lee Kiefer made both Olympic and Team USA history. Her win marked the first time an American, either man or woman, won the individual foil fencing event which has been a part of the modern Olympic games since its inception in 1896.
“It’s the best result everyone dreams to do [in the Olympics],” Kiefer’s fencing coach Amgad Khazbak said. “A lot of people dream just to participate in the Olympic Games, but what about if you win the gold? We worked a lot of hours, a lot of days and a lot of years to get this.”
The victory marks only the third Olympic gold for the United States in fencing as Mariel Zagunis won in saber at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and marks the first Olympic medal for the 27-year-old who finished fifth in the event in the 2012 London Olympics and 10th at the 2016 Rio Olympics during her two previous appearances.
“Lee has really made fencing history, not just for the U.S., but in world fencing history,” Khazbak said. “She worked hard and she’s talented. … It’s a dream. Any competition would be forgotten, but the Olympic Games, you’ll never forget this moment.”
Third Olympic Games. First Olympic medal. AND IT'S A HISTORIC FIRST #TEAMUSA GOLD! @leetothekiefer x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/7NyjzmLEwU
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 25, 2021
Kiefer’s victory also brings a great amount of pride to her hometown of Lexington, Ky. Though born in Cleveland, the fencer spent most of her childhood growing up in the Commonwealth, eventually attending Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in the city. The daughter of a Duke collegiate fencer and with both her siblings also fencing at the collegiate level, however none reached quite the same college success as Kiefer did.
“Lee’s done a lot of winning,” Khazbak said. “Lee won more than 20 medals in the world championships when she was 17 and under and 20 years and under and nobody won that many medals coming up in the world at the junior level.”
During her four-year career at the University of Notre Dame, Kiefer’s skills with a foil would become nationally recognized as she would become a four-time NCAA champion. Seeking to make the move from the college ranks to the Olympic level, Kiefer would align herself with the nearby Bluegrass Fencers Club in Lexington where she would learn under the tutelage of Khazbak, one of the most highly regarded fencing coaches in the world and the former coach of the U.S. women’s national team.
“Athletes need a good coach to match them as a person,” Khazbak said. “Me and Lee have been a great match. My strategies, my actions, she did it well and liked it and tried to do it. A lot of it was trial and error and fixing … all the factors around us have made for a good result here.”
While both had varying degrees of success with their team, with Kiefer winning four world championship medals (one team gold in 2018, one team silver in 2017, one team bronze in 2019 and an individual bronze in 2011), this moment is certainly seen as the pinnacle of the pair’s achievements. With Olympic history made, both student and coach can return to Kentucky with their heads held high and a gold medal placed securely upon Kiefer’s shoulders.
“We took it step by step, match by match, point by point to get this,” Khazbak said. “Before every bout we talk about what we’re doing and I always tell her, ‘Nobody is better than you’ and that’s the truth! Lee was working hard in every touch and it wasn’t easy, including in the final bout, and we need to work hard in every moment to win and get the medal. … It was a great moment, a really great moment.”
As news of their success continues to spread throughout the Bluegrass State, expect to see a surge in popularity in fencing across the region.
“Fencing is growing a lot in the U.S.,” Khazbak said. “When you see something like this, everyone in the club knows they can do the same, looking at Lee as an example. All of this is good for the new generation to see.”
With one of the most decorated U.S. fencers of all time calling the state her home, only time will tell if Kiefer’s influence impacts the next generation. When that time does come, expect both Kiefer and the Bluegrass Fencers Club to be right in the center of the action, just as they were during the foil championship where the United States finally broke through for Olympic gold.
“A lot of people want to come to the club to start fencing,” Khazbak said. “Now at the club we have three Olympians and me as an Olympic coach so I think a lot of people will come to our club. It is good for our club, good for Lexington and good for Kentucky.”
