LEE KIEFER
Question: Lee, how have things changed for you since Tokyo, the gold medal there?
Lee Kiefer: The medal from the last Games helped solidify the decision to keep fencing. It justified to myself that it was an OK path. But not that much has changed, I suppose. I’m still doing what everyone else is doing — training, just doing my best.
Question: Lee, being in Kentucky, a place not known for fencing, what’s kept you in Lexington this whole time? And Gerek, what have you thought about the community in Kentucky and everything that’s gone into that move for you?
Lee Kiefer: Before I left for the Games, Bluegrass Fencers Club where I train celebrated our 20th anniversary, and I was one of the original members. In the first six months, there were probably like 10 of us training in the area. Our coach [Amgad Khazbak], originally from Egypt, came from Texas, but there was no fencing in the area before.
Over the past 20 years, people have moved from across the country to come work with my coach. We have such a great group of people, and I think that’s what keeps me going in the day-to-day grind — all the great athletes, and they’re like my family. But Gerek, why are you in Kentucky?
Question: What’s it going to be like fencing at the Grand Palais, in France at the Olympics?
Lee Kiefer: I only have good energy going in. The last time I was there was for the world championship in 2010 when Gerek got a bronze medal. I didn’t really know him back then, but it was a time where we were like, “Oh, the U.S. is getting stronger. We can do it.” So historically, that’s just a really exciting place for us.
Question: Lee, when you were standing there with the American flag going up and you got the medal, what was going through your mind and what do you remember most about that moment?
Lee Kiefer: Winning a medal was like getting married. You’re there with a lot of excitement, but you only remember what happened by seeing the pictures later. There’s so much heightened emotion, and I was honestly in disbelief. To this day, I still have that feeling.
Question: Lee, did you put your medical career on hold for this, and how did you decide to do that, knowing both paths are important?
Lee Kiefer: I am on a leave of absence. I’ve been on one since Tokyo. Before the Games, I finished my first two years, which are the pre-clinical work. Once you’re in the hospital, there are just no hours in the day for a normal student, let alone a student- athlete. The University of Kentucky was very supportive, and they are letting both of us come back next summer.
Question: Lee and Gerek how is it for you two to share another Olympic experience in such different circumstances from Tokyo?
Lee Kiefer: Every Games has been different in terms of expectations, our relationship, and what life looks like after. Like everyone else, we’re just trying to live in the moment and enjoy it.
Question: What are your favorite experiences so far or great moments from the village or your training?
Lee Kiefer: I am so excited for the women’s foil team. Our young talent, Maia and Lauren, have been working hard to become wiser, stronger, and more professional. I’m proud of us, and that makes me excited to compete.
GEREK MEINHARDT
Question: So Gerek, it’s your fifth Games. How has your career been defined by those five Games?
Gerek Meinhardt: They’ve all been very different for me — being 18 at the first, and now turning 34 in a few days. I’m just excited for the new challenges. And the three of my teammates and I have never been at an Olympics together. Right now, we just have this group goal of winning gold. So I’m excited to be back and hopefully we can achieve
Question: Gerek, can you talk about the history of fencing in the Bay Area and what it means to you all going into these games?
Gerek Meinhardt: It’s exciting to represent the Bay Area, even though I don’t live there now. I grew up there, started fencing there. When I first started fencing in the late 90s, fencing wasn’t a huge scene in the Bay Area. I was lucky to come up with a talented group of fencers, not just from my club, but also at other clubs that had recently opened up in the Bay Area. We all made each other stronger by competing locally against each other. It’s great to represent the Bay Area at this stage and see how strong the Bay Area has become. There are fencers in our under-17 and under-20 age groups winning medals at world championships. Fencing has grown in the Bay Area and all over the U.S.
Question: Gerek, what are your memories of that night in Tokyo when Lee won her medal, and what does it represent to you now?
Gerek Meinhardt: That was a really emotional day with an incredible ending. Everyone who competes at the Games works hard and wants it badly. Being someone who trained with her, especially through the pandemic with training restrictions, I could tell how much she wanted it. It was very emotional and made me feel incredibly proud and happy for her and myself for being part of it.
Question: Lee, being in Kentucky, a place not known for fencing, what’s kept you in Lexington this whole time? And Gerek, what have you thought about the community in Kentucky and everything that’s gone into that move for you?
Gerek Meinhardt: I think they all know why I’m in Kentucky. In 2017, when I first moved there, I wasn’t optimistic about continuing to fence. It’s a really small club compared to where I’m from. The Bay Area has a lot of other strong clubs in the area and a lot of local competition, whereas Lexington is more isolated, especially in foil. But the culture there, the excitement, the love everyone at that club has for fencing, and of course having Lee and a lot of talented young fencers made it a great place for me to train and continue fencing. I’m very happy to be living in Lexington, and UK is a great place.
Question: To the foil guys, you all had a very clear goal when we talked earlier. Can you talk a little about the goal versus the pressure and how the mindset is different this time?
Gerek Meinhardt: Our goal is to win gold, finally. We’ve won bronzes at the last two team events. Even though we fell short of the goal at those games, which was also gold, I think we learned from it and have become stronger. We were ranked higher going into the last two Games and came home with bronze. We know that we’re capable, and ranking really doesn’t matter, especially in a sport like fencing. So we’re just excited to go out there, fight as hard as we can, and show all the work that we’ve been doing.
Question: What’s it going to be like fencing at the Grand Palais, in France at the Olympics?
Gerek Meinhardt: Last time was a big moment for me, winning that bronze medal at Senior Worlds. That was a long time ago. It’s all going to be new for me. It’s a whole new level and a whole new stage. I’m just excited to go there, see the venue tomorrow, and compete later in the week.
Question: Lee and Gerek how is it for you two to share another Olympic experience in such different circumstances from Tokyo?
Gerek Meinhardt: We’re really excited because our friends and family can come out. My parents, my sister, her wife, and my two nephews arrived today. We’re figuring out how to see them tomorrow. Also, we get to spend more time with our teammates and see more of the village. Nick, for instance, Tokyo was his first Games, and it was a unique one. We’re excited to have more of the full experience with everyone.
Question: What are your favorite experiences so far or great moments from the village or your training?
Gerek Meinhardt: Exploring the Village with everyone has been exciting. Today, sports are starting with soccer matches, and that takes it to a whole new level. We’ve been training all day and haven’t walked around the Village today, but seeing other sports on TV is fun. Learning about sports we’re not familiar with is going to be enjoyable.
NICK ITKIN
Question: So Nick, you’re the world No. 2 and just won the gold at the Pan American Championships. What’s your goal for the individual event here in Paris?
Nick Itkin: I just want to compete my best. I know that pressure is at an all-time high. So my mindset is just to be able to compete at my highest level and not let the nerves get to me. As long as I get to showcase my talents on the highest position possible, then I’ll be happy.
Question: Nick, how is your mindset and confidence coming into these Games compared to Tokyo?
Nick Itkin: In Tokyo, I think I was just happy to be there and there was just so much going on that I just really took in all the excitement. But I have so much more experience now, and I’ve fenced at that level before, and on that stage, so I know what it takes, and I know how to control my emotions at those highest levels. I just think I’ve grown so much as a person and as a fencer since then, so I’m just excited to finally be able to get out there and do it. We’ve been training so hard for so long, and I think all of us are ready to finally start fencing.
Question: To the foil guys, you all had a very clear goal when we talked earlier. Can you talk a little about the goal versus the pressure and how the mindset is different this time?
Nick Itkin: We all have a very clear goal we’ve stated since day one. As opposed to pressure, I think I’m lucky to be with a lot of veteran teammates. They know how to deal with that. Even in World Cups, my teammates can say something funny, even when I’m in the zone and focused, and then I’ll just snap out of it. That’s something I can have because of my veteran teammates.
Question: What’s it going to be like fencing at the Grand Palais, in France at the Olympics?
Nick Itkin: The Grand Palais is a perfect location for fencing. It has such a history, and we’re in France, the birthplace of fencing. It looks beautifully done and ready for the competition. I’m excited to have friends and family come and have a full stadium. That’s a huge part of sport, not just fencing, to have the fans and that energy. So I’m looking forward to it.
Question: You guys represent Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame, Penn State. Fencers are known as the intellectuals of the Games. Do you embrace that?
Nick Itkin: I’m surrounded by a lot of smart people in fencing. I can’t say I’m the best in my science classes, but when it comes to fencing, I’m passionate about it, and everything clicks. Strategy and analysis make sense to me, and that makes me want to learn more. Education had a huge part in that.
Question: What are your favorite experiences so far or great moments from the village or your training?
Nick Itkin: We’ve had an amazing experience so far. The Nike and Ralph Lauren and Skims experiences were cool and different from what I’ve experienced. Meeting Snoop Dogg was cool because he’s an icon on the West Coast. We’re ready to go and want everyone to watch us go crazy. We’re excited.
MAGDA SKARBONKIEWICZ
Question: Magda, you’re 18. What does the experience mean for you as the youngest woman on the U. S. fencing team?
Magda Skarbonkiewicz: It’s trying not to get overwhelmed by everything going on, because as you know, as a young person, I see something and want to do this and that. So I’m going to focus my mental mindset to fence the best I can here and not let the pressure get to me.
Question: What are your favorite experiences so far or great moments from the village or your training?
Magda Skarbonkiewicz: I grew up watching Mariel Zagunis. It’s cool to follow her legacy in my own way. Coming here with her mindset, eyes on the prize, is important. I’m excited for the team tournament because we’re a fresh, hungry team ready to show everyone what we’ve got.