Fil-Am Lee Kiefer wins gold in individual foil fencing event


Filipino-American Lee Kiefer of the USA Fencing Team celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's individual foil event in the Tokyo Olympics Sunday in Japan. (Photo from the Instagram fencing_fie)

Filipino-American Lee Kiefer fencer of the USA captured the gold medal in the women's individual foil event after stunning defending champion Inna Deriglazova of Russia 15-13 in the Tokyo Olympics Sunday night, July 25 at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Japan.

The 27-year-old Kiefer, whose mother Teresa is from Tagum City in Davao, broke free from a 12-all score to win the gold medal against the 31-year-old Deriglazova.

Lee’s latest win added to her colorful career that included a gold medal with the United States foil women’s team during the 2018 World Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China.

In an article by Spin.PH in 2016, it mentioned that Lee, who started fencing at the age of 5 years old, has visited the country when she was 10 with her mother and father Steve.

This is Lee’s third Olympics, having competed in the 2012 London edition and the 2016 Rio meet.

A former US NCAA fencing champion at Notre Dame, Lee will be aiming for her second gold medal when she leads the USA women’s foil squad with Nicole Ross, Jackie Dubrovich and Sabrina Massialas.