Olympic fencer Lee Kiefer, who is Filipino-American representing Team USA, defended her title at the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating US compatriot Lauren Scruggs in the women's individual foil on Sunday (early Monday in the Philippines), 15-6.
“These three years have been so short and so long at the same time. Every day it’s been a freaking battle and I have so many people to thank for helping me get here on this day, at this moment,” said Kiefer, who chose to represent the United States where her family migrated when she was a child.
“It’s absolutely historical,” she added.
Tracing her roots in Mindanao
The 30-year-old Kiefer is of Filipino descent as her mother, Teresa, originally came from Tagum City in Davao before migrating to the United States.
When she won the foil gold medal in 2021, Kiefer's Bacani-Oropilla clan even celebrated her triumph
She received one of the TOFA (The Outstanding Filipinos Awards) honors in 2021, which were given out at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Currently, Kiefer attends the University of Kentucky College of Medicine as a medical student.
Dominant from start to finish
World No. 1 and second-seeded Kiefer dominated the entire competition. She advanced to the Table of 16 match against Chinese opponent Qianqian Huang after receiving a bye in the Table of 64. She then defeated Martyna Jelinska of Poland with a narrow 15-13 victory.
She subsequently overcame Flora Pasztor of Hungary in the Round of 8 and Alice Volpi of Italy in the semifinals.
The Olympic win added to her seven World Championship medals, among many others.
