Profiles of Top Fencers in US

When the modern Olympic Games were inaugurated in the year 1896, at Athens, Greece, fencing was a part of the first 9 sports to be played. Ever since, it has been one of the only four sports which continued to be played at every Olympics.

Fencing can be categorized based on the usage of three weapons i.e. the foil, epee and sabre. Fencing is a very demanding sport. It requires the competitor to be strong, well-coordinated and has a good sense of timing and strength.

The #1 fencers of the world, also declared the United States fencing athlete of the calendar year are Keeth Smart and Sada Jacobson. They are also the first from the United States to bag the #1 position.

Keeth Smart

Keeth Smart belonged to Brooklyn, NY, and was trained the famous Peter Westbrook Foundation. He was one of the topmost fencers to train at the prestigious institute. He outranked the other fencers during the 2002 – 2003 season, when he proved to be a very strong contender. He always ranked amongst the top ten of every world cup. He boasted a sensational medal collection of 2 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze in the year 2003. He received U.S. Fencing Male Athlete of the Year Award for two consecutive years.

Sada Jacobson

Sada Jacobson, a native of Dunwoody, also showcased a remarkable 2003 season. She was the second United States national to reach the #1 world ranking (the first being a male). She rose to become the first American to gain the title of overall World Cup Champion. The award was a huge triumph for Sada and the whole U.S. fencing team, as it identifies the top worldwide fencer of the season, in every category. Sada Jacobson bagged two golds, one silver, and three bronze medals in the year 2003 alone. She created history by being the only American fencer to win 6 medals. Sada has also won the title for U.S. Fencing Female Athlete of the Year for two consecutive years.

Sada Jacobson again teamed up with Mariel Zagunis and Rebecca Ward to win Sabre team bronze in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

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