New Yorker Lauren Scruggs has expressed hope that becoming the first black woman in the US to win an individual medal in fencing will attract others like her to take up the sport.
The 21-year-old Harvard University philosophy student, who will compete for the first time at the 2024 Paris Olympics, initially became interested in fencing through her brother Nolen, who was a big fan of the Star Wars films.
Now, the glamour of the saber on the big screen has helped put all the attention on her and she hopes this will encourage other black Americans to follow her.
She said: ‘Fencing is very much and certainly has been a non-black sport, so I hope to inspire young black girls to take up fencing and to think that they can have a place in this sport.
‘I just hope that more people like me, girls like me, feel like they have their place in sport.
Lauren Scruggs wants to inspire others after becoming the first black woman in the US to win an Olympic fencing medal
“My brother loved Star Wars, so after watching the movie he wanted to try fencing. My mom saw an ad for a local club in Brooklyn.
“He had been doing different sports. He tried it and was actually pretty good at it. Being the younger brother, I did the same thing as him and found out that I really liked fencing too and was pretty good at it, so it stuck with me.”
Her gold medal dream was dashed by her American teammate Lee Kiefer, who followed up her gold at Tokyo 2020 with her second Olympic gold medal.
She said: ‘It was great to be in a final with Lauren because we were both around 5’3″ and 5’4″.
“We are very athletic and very creative. That’s great for the sport and it will inspire a lot of girls.”
Lauren, who was born in Queens, talked about where she got her confidence.
Scruggs (left) won silver in Paris, while American teammate Lee Kiefer (center) took gold.
The young woman from New York now wants other black women to follow her in this sport
‘I think it’s because of where I grew up, I’m from New York City and I feel like you have to be incredibly confident in how you live your life there.
“I think I brought some of that with me today. Every game I put my headphones on, listened to my music and got really excited.
“I was yelling at myself before I got on guard with every touch, so I just brought the energy that’s always been so integral in my life and I just brought the energy here today.”
Bronze went to Canada’s Eleanor Harvey, who said she also hoped her podium success would encourage young people in her country to take up the sport.