Lee Kiefer, a 30-year-old medical student from Lexington, Kentucky, made history by winning her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in women's individual foil fencing, defeating teammate Lauren Scruggs 15-6 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The finals, held at the Grand Palais, marked a significant moment as it featured two American women competing for the gold medal in women's foil fencing.

Kiefer's victory was decisive, with a final score of 15-6, making her the second American woman to win individual Olympic fencing gold, following her gold medal win in Tokyo 2020.

This championship was particularly notable as it echoed the 2008 Beijing Games, where American fencers also faced off for the gold.

Kiefer's journey to this victory included a fifth-place finish in London 2012 and a tenth-place finish in Rio 2016, showcasing her growth as an athlete.

Lauren Scruggs, competing in her first Olympics, secured a silver medal and made history as the first Black American woman to medal in Olympic fencing.

Scruggs' impressive performance included defeating the Italian favorite in the quarter-finals, highlighting her rapid rise in the sport.

Both Kiefer and her husband, Gerek Meinhardt, who is also competing in the Olympics, support each other despite the challenges of their busy schedules and separate accommodations.

After the Olympics, Kiefer plans to return to her medical studies, with aspirations of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Kiefer is a four-time NCAA champion and advocates for reproductive justice, volunteering with the Kentucky Health Justice Network.

Throughout the match, Kiefer showcased exceptional speed, precision, and mental fortitude, recovering from an early deficit to dominate the final period.

Since the Tokyo Games, Kiefer has focused on enhancing her fencing skills, particularly by incorporating more offensive tactics, which contributed to her success in Paris.