Fil-Am fencer wins her second women’s foil gold medal in Paris Olympics

Lee Kiefer / leetothekiefer/Instagram

Skill, tenacity and experience combined, Filipino American fencer Lee Kiefer, representing the US, has once again proven her prowess after successfully defending her title in the women’s individual foil at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Marking the fifth individual gold medal for a US fencer in Olympic history, Kiefer outmatched her fellow American, Lauren Scruggs, in the final held at the Grand Palais on July 28, triumphing with a decisive 15-6 victory.

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Following her big win in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Kiefer celebrated her latest victory with a joyful pirouette down the piste, becoming only the second American fencer to win gold in the same event twice, joining the ranks of Mariel Zagunis (2004 and 2008).

Reflecting on her dominant performance from start to finish, Kiefer expressed her amusement that she did it again: “I’m still stunned,” she shared with Olympics.com. “I don’t realize it happened just because it’s been such a long day with a lot of highs and lows. But here we are making history, it’s awesome.”

While Kiefer basked in her victory, Filipina fencer Samantha Catantan made her Olympic debut with a commendable performance.

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Despite battling knee pain, the Penn State University graduating student narrowly lost to the top-seeded Arianna Errigo of Italy, 12-15, in the table of 32 round. Ranked 266th in the world and seeded 33rd in the event, Catantan made history as the first Filipina fencer to compete in the Olympic Games. She advanced to the table of 32 after a hard-fought 15-13 win against Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia in the previous round.
Catantan’s resilient performance, especially her comeback attempt against Errigo, showcased her determination and skill. Coming back from a four-point deficit to close the gap gave the four-time Olympian a nerve-wracking game.
Catantan’s efforts have set a new standard for Filipino fencers, inspiring future generations to aim for the Olympic stage because she knows that Filipinos have what it takes to win.