There was no bad outcome for the United States in the women’s individual foil final on Sunday.
The match between Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs marked the first all-American final in Olympic fencing since 2008, but it ended in the second straight individual foil gold medal for Kiefer, who won 15-6 to finish on the top step of the podium.
Kiefer, a native of Cleveland, became the first American foil fencer in history to win an individual Olympic gold in Tokyo and her victory was rarely in doubt during Sunday’s final.
After the fencers split the first two touches, Kiefer scored five straight touches to open a 7-2 lead during the first three-minute period.
Repeatedly, Kiefer scored with the same counterattacking movement, allowing Scruggs space to get towards her before lunging successfully.
It took just one of three periods for Kiefer to reach the decisive 15 points to win gold.
Upon doing so, she ripped off her helmet and screamed in joy.
Scruggs, a native of Queens, earned her first-ever Olympic medal by finishing second.