USA Women's Team Foil Fencing Clinches Silver Medal to Face Italy in Paris Olympics Final

Lee Kiefer led the United States to a 45-31 victory over Canada in the women's team foil fencing semi-final, ensuring at least a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. The US team, comprising Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, and Jacqueline Dubrovich, will compete against top-seeded Italy in the final. A win could mark the first-ever team gold in fencing for the US.

Lee Kiefer was the standout as the United States beat Canada 45-31 in their women's team foil fencing semi-final to guarantee at least a silver medal at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Two-time individual gold medalist Kiefer, silver medalist Lauren Scruggs and Jacqueline Dubrovich will face Italy in the final later Thursday after the Italians beat Japan 45-39. Italy's team of Alice Volpi, Arianna Errigo and Martina Favaretto is seeded first and the US second in the bracket.

Kiefer went a combined 23-12 in her three matchups, including 13-4 against 16-year-old Canadian Yunjia Zhang when the US had been four points down. The US already has three fencing medals — one of each colour — so far at the Paris Olympics and now has a chance to win two gold medals in fencing at the same Olympics for the first time as well as a first-ever team gold for the US.

An American fencer, Albertson Van Zo Post, won two gold medals at the 1904 St. Louis Games, but one of those was a team event, in which he competed alongside two Cuban fencers. That medal is officially considered a “mixed team” win, not a US gold.