Dunbar alum, Olympian Lee Kiefer eliminated
in quarterfinals of individual foil competition

Staff report

Lee Kiefer. (Photo from Team USA)

Lexington’s Lee Kiefer will have to wait for her first Olympic medal.

The 18-year-old Paul Laurence Dunbar High School graduate saw her run in the women’s individual foil event end in the semifinals Saturday with a 15-10 loss to Italy’s Arianna Errigo.

Keifer, who had a bye in the round of 64, defeated Canada’s Monica Peterson 15-10 in the round of 32 and rallied for a 15-13 win against Korea’s Gil Ok Jung in the round of 16.

Kiefer jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the second period of that match, but Jung scored the next nine points to take an 11-8 lead early in the third period. Kiefer then scored the next four points to take a 12-11 lead before outscoring Jung 3-2 down the stretch for the win.

In the quarterfinal round, Kiefer fell in a lightning-paced match that did not even reach the second period. Errigo scored nine of the first 13 points before Kiefer cut the lead to 9-8. Errigo closed the match on a 6-2 run for the 15-10 win.

Errigo is ranked fourth in the world in the event, while Kiefer is ranked fifth.

Kiefer will return to action in the women’s team foil competition on Aug. 1.

For more on Kiefer, you can read the KyForward feature “Lexington’s Lee Kiefer set for first Olympics at age 18 as country’s top female fencer.”