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Lauren Scruggs (fencer)

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For the blogger, see Lauren Scruggs (blogger).
Lauren Scruggs
Personal information
Born (2003-01-27) January 27, 2003 (age 21)
Queens, New York, U.S.
EducationHarvard University
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportFencing
University teamHarvard
Medal record
Women's foil
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Individual
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Plovdiv Team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Plovdiv Individual
Gold medal – first place 2022 Dubai Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Dubai Individual
Silver medal – second place 2021 Cairo Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Toruń Individual
Gold medal – first place 2018 Verona Team
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Verona Individual
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Lima Team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Lima Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Lima Individual

Lauren Scruggs (born January 27, 2003) is an American foil fencer who won a silver medal in individual foil at the 2024 Summer Olympics, making her the first African American woman to win an individual fencing medal. She also won a gold medal in team foil at the same Olympics, with Lee Kiefer, Jackie Dubrovich, and Maia Weintraub. Scruggs competes for the Harvard Crimson team in collegiate fencing, she has also won an NCAA championship and is one of two black fencers from the United States to have won an individual world championship.[1]

Early life and education

Scruggs grew up in Queens, New York.[2] She was inspired to start fencing as a 6-year-old, after her older brother joined a fencing club in Brooklyn.[3][4] She attended Packer Collegiate Institute, graduating in 2021.[5] Her older brother Nolen fenced at Columbia University.[6]

She is a student at Harvard University and is majoring in philosophy.[7][8]

Career

Scruggs is a two-time champion in the Junior World Fencing Championships, winning individual gold medals in 2019 and 2022 as well as other individual and team awards in 2018, 2021, and 2023.[9] In 2023, she earned an individual gold medal at the NCAA Fencing Championships in Durham, North Carolina, and contributed to a fifth-place team finish for Harvard.[10] In June 2023, she took bronze at the Pan American Fencing Championships in Lima.[11]

2024 Summer Olympics

On March 17, 2024, Scruggs qualified for the Paris Games by earning bronze at the Absolute Fencing Gear FIE Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.

She won the silver medal in the women's foil event, defeating Arianna Errigo and Eleanor Harvey before losing 15–6 in the final to fellow American Lee Kiefer.[12][13] This made Scruggs the first Black American woman to win an individual fencing medal.[14] She also won a gold medal in the team competition.

Personal life

Scruggs is openly lesbian and currently dating a Harvard classmate.[3] She is involved with the Peter Westbrook Foundation, which offers fencing lessons to children and teens who are members of underrepresented groups.[11]

References

  1. ^ Coronell Uribe, Raquel (July 26, 2024). "Harvard's fencing program charging onto the Olympics scene with 8 athletes set to compete in Paris". NBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "Lauren Scruggs". USA Fencing. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Zeigler, Cyd (June 7, 2024). "Lauren Scruggs says her Olympics sport is like 'Princess Bride'". OutSports. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Grove, Rashad (July 26, 2024). "Diverse Voices in Fencing: Miles Chamley-Watson and Lauren Scruggs Discuss Their Olympic Journey". BET. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Lauren Scruggs". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "Lauren Scruggs - 2023-24 - Women's Fencing". Harvard University. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Forst, Katharine; Harris, Thomas (March 20, 2024). "Harvard's Lauren Scruggs To Represent Team USA at 2024 Paris Olympics | Sports". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Rose, Naeisha (May 30, 2024). "From Ozone Park to the Paris Olympics". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  9. ^ "Lauren Scruggs Crowned Junior World Champion for Second Time in Her Career". Harvard University. April 5, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Behrens, Caroline (March 31, 2023). "Harvard's Jonas Hansen and Lauren Scruggs Take Home the Gold at Fencing NCAA Championships". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Aponte, Claudia Irizarry (July 10, 2024). "En Garde: Two New York Olympic Fencers Are on The Path to Paris". THE CITY. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Zeigler, Cyd (July 28, 2024). "In first all-USA final, Lauren Scruggs wins improbable silver medal". OutSports. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Wong, Samantha (July 28, 2024). "Olympic fencing recap, July 28: Major upsets in women's foil, men's epee early rounds". NBC Olympics. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  14. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/07/28/lee-kiefer-lauren-scruggs-fencing-paris-olympics/#:~:text=Fellow%20American%20Lee%20Kiefer%20won,the%20delight%20of%20her%20mentor.
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