The 2024 Paris Olympics is beckoning and the USA’s top fencing stars are going in all guns ablaze with several men’s and women’s squads already securing their spots for the big rumble ahead. While the squad members are yet to be disclosed in April, some individual names have come to the fore over the last few weeks. As some stars eye their maiden Olympics medal, others are looking to repeat their feat on the big stage, with Lee Kiefer at the helm of things.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kiefer became the first American to win an individual foil gold. Her ambition to follow up on her big success was highlighted further last year as she bagged a gold at the 2023 Pan Am Games. And now, as the foil fencer looks ahead to her fourth Olympics, take a moment to re-live her history-making moment!

Fencing celebrity’s pivotal Olympics feat

A recent Twitter post by the official NBC Olympics & Paralympics account has surfaced Kiefer’s performance from three years ago. “Lee Kiefer made HISTORY for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics.“, reminds the post emphatically as it showcases the foil fencer’s final match against Inna Deriglazova of Russia in Tokyo. Securing 14 points after a nail-biting second round, Kiefer couldn’t help holding back on her emotions as she stood face-to-face with history on the biggest stage of them all.

Right as the winner was announced, Team USA’s fencing coach broke down on his knees, overwhelmed by the monumental achievement of the Kiefer. “History made in Tokyo“, exclaims the commentator, and jubilation in the announcement cannot go unnoticed. The two then share a hug as they both grin broadly. The post also reminds everyone that Lee will be returning to action this Sunday for the 2024 FIE Foil Grand Prix. Kiefer will look to add to her medal tally further in Washington. However, the Olympian’s life isn’t limited by her foil ambitions.

Kiefer stands strong amid her crushing schedule

Lee is determined to defend her title in the upcoming games, and she looks confident. In an interview with Olympics.com, the fencer claimed “I know that I can do it again”, highlighting how she’s looking forward to another set of thrilling matches against the world’s top stars. Kiefer also talked about how her debut on the big stage wasn’t a thing of pressure, but how she pushed herself for a podium finish in 2016: “I put a lot of pressure on myself to medal in Rio“. Interestingly, Kiefer has a thriving career apart from the fencing career.

Read more: Road to Paris 2024: USA Fencing Teams Shines Bright by Securing Double Qualification to Olympics

Kiefer is pursuing medical studies at the University of Kentucky. However, she had to take a break from her academic pursuits to fly to Santiago for the Pan American Games along with her husband, Gerek Meinhardt. Notably, Gerek is also an Olympic fencer with two medals to his name and is eyeing another spot on the national team for his fifth Games. The two tied the knot in 2019 and are now looking to achieve another milestone as a celebrity fencing couple.