Team USA Fencing – Fiercely Fighting at the Olympic Summer Games

Fencing Match – Photo Credit: bleacherreport.com

In 2012, the Olympic fencing team will be one of the most highly anticipated teams to watch in recent memories. Several sources have said that this team has the most pressure to deliver as well as the most talent that the US will be sending to the Olympics in recent memories. Fencing has been in the Olympics since the first Olympiad in Greece in 1896. The US has become more successful over the last couple of Olympics; however, the total medal count for the US is 20, while France and Italy have 115 and 114 medals.

The Men’s team includes:

• Miles Chamley-Wilson: World Rank 31; however, he has no Olympic experience, but looks to make a statement in his first appearance.
• Seth Kelsey: Has competed in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics where he was eliminated in earlier rounds. He has trained harder than ever to try to make a deep run in this year’s Olympics.
• Daryl Homer: World Rank 12; seems to be one of the more promising male fencers for the US.
• Tim Morehouse: World Rank 26; took home a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics; looking to make a deep run this year as well.
• James Williams:World Rank 32; has been as high as 18 in the world, and is looking forward to competing in this year’s Olympics.

The Women’s team includes:

• Lee Kiefer: World Rank 7; she is just 18 years old and has a very long career ahead of her. She has competed on an international level; however, this will be her first Olympic appearance.
• Nzingha Prescod: World Rank 15; she has won on every level she has competed in; this is her first Olympic experience. We will have to wait and see how she handles the pressure.
• Nicole Ross: World Rank 33; has had great success in the US; however, she has faltered on the World stage.
• Courtney Hurley: World Rank 15; has ascended ranks of international fencing, and is looking to compete for her first medal at the Olympics. Her rank is definitely underrated as she has been winning consistently.
• Maya Lawrence: has no world rank, and is a definite surprise when it comes to making the Olympics. She has surged onto the scene and is looking to prove any doubt of her being on the Olympic fencing team in the first place.
• Susannah Scanlan: similar to Lawrence, she surprised many critics by making the fencing team, and is a non-ranked underdog in competition.
• Dagmara Wozniak: World Rank 12; she is firing on all cylinders and is looking to be one of the two most successful us women’s fencers on the team.
• Mariel Zagunis: World Rank 1; she is absolutely the best fencer in the world and has been dominant in the past 5-10 years. She is looking to become the second female fencer in Olympic History to win in 3 back-to-back Olympics.