Lauren Scruggs Makes History: First Black American Woman to Win Individual Olympic Fencing Medal and Secures Team Gold

After Lauren Scruggs, 21, became the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic fencing medal, she clinched gold for the U.S. team in the women’s foil competition on Thursday. Overcome with excitement, Scruggs threw off her mask and spun around, her joy apparent with her eyes and mouth wide open.This victory marked the team’s first-ever gold medal in the event. 

“Fencing has historically been a sport with few Black participants,” Scruggs told NCAA.com in July. “I hope to inspire young Black girls to take up fencing and believe they have a place in the sport. I want to show that girls who look like me can find a place in fencing.”