USA Fencing

Congratulations to our 2021 USA Fencing Hall of Fame inductees. The class will be honored, alongside the 2020 inductees, during a ceremony in Minneapolis at the 2022 USA Fencing National Championships and July Challenge — also known as Summer Nationals.

Eyre started fencing saber at age 44. She attended her first Summer Nationals in 1999 and won gold at the inaugural Veteran 50+ Women's Sabre World Championship in 2005. She went on to win the individual world championship title six more times. She has represented the U.S. in 15 straight FIE Veteran World Championships, winning 17 medals. Over the span of 21 years in national and international fencing, Eyre has won a total of 53 gold medals. She is a competitor, club owner, coach and artist. 

Lawrence was part of the 2012 Olympic team that secured a bronze medal — the first medal for Team USA in a women’s epee event at the senior world or Olympic level. She represented the U.S. in seven Senior World Championships and five Senior Pan-American Championships. Lawrence currently is raising two future fencers, Swann and Harper, serves on USA Fencing committees and is a marketing professional in Paris.

Marx was a member of the 1984, 1988 and 1992 U.S. men’s epee Olympic teams. He was a two-time World Cup finalist and the 1985 national champion. Marx has contributed greatly to the sport of fencing in Oregon and the Northwest Fencing Center. He continues to train at the Salle Auriol Fencing Club, in Beaverton, Ore.

Petin coached at Metropolis Fencing Club in NYC and started coaching at the NYC-based Fencers Club in 2000. He served as U.S. national women’s foil coach in 2001 and was a coach at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In 2003, the United States Olympic Committee awarded Petin its Fencing Developmental Coach of the Year award. His top student, Emily Cross, won the silver team medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Fondly known as “the mother of Oregon fencing,” Olney originally started fencing in the 1960s as physical therapy after an automobile accident. After her competitive career, she began teaching fencing and supporting her sons in their competitive aspirations. She created a rich fencing environment in the Portland area — a legacy that includes the Northwest Fencing Center, the Oregon Fencing Alliance and free fencing programs in the Portland area. In addition to teaching her two sons, Michael and Robert Marx, she also was the first coach of Mariel Zagunis, the first American to win a gold medal in Olympic fencing.