Event: Saber 
Height:  5'8"
Weight: 160 lbs
Birthplace:  Portland, Ore.
Current Residence: Beaverton, Ore.
College: Attended the University of Notre Dame (2004-06: Anthropology major)
High School: Graduate of Valley Catholic High School (2003)
Club: Oregon Fencing Alliance
Coach: Ed Korfanty
Hobbies: Cooking, Playing tennis and soccer, relaxing bike rides and anything that has to do with the outdoors, including volunteering in environmental preservation activities.
Web Site: www.marielzagunis.com
Current U.S. Ranking: No. 1
Current World Ranking: No. 9
Honors:

  • Most decorated athlete in the history of USA Fencing
  • Only woman from any nation to win two individual Olympic titles in women's saber

  • Five-time Senior World Champion – Two-time individual gold medalist (2009, 2010), Three-time team gold medalist (2000, 2005, 2014)

  • Inducted into FIE Hall of Fame in 2013
  • First U.S. fencer to medal at three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2016)
  • 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2005 FIE Senior World Cup Champion
  • 2004, 2003 and 2002 FIE Junior World Cup Champion
  • Youngest U.S. fencer to win a gold medal at a Senior World Championships (age 15 in 2000)
  • Only U.S. fencer to win four World Championship titles in one season
  • First U.S. fencer to have win four Senior World Championship gold medals
  • 2009 FIE Chevelier Feyerick Trophy recipient for sportsmanship and fair play
  • Secret/U.S. Women's Sports Foundation Oregon Athlete of the Year in 2002
  • 2004 and 2005 Bill Hayward Award recipient as Oregon's #1 amateur athlete of the year
  • Named Oregon's No. 1 Women's Professional Athlete of the Year in 2009
  • Named Notre Dame's Athlete of the Decade in 2010

Olympic Teams: 2020 (Qual. - Ind. & Team), 2016 (Bronze - Team), 2012, 2008 (Gold - Individual, Bronze - Team), 2004 (Gold - Individual)

Senior World Championship Teams: 2019, 2018, 2015 (Bronze - Team), 2014 (Gold - Team, Silver - Individual), 2013 (Bronze - Team), 2012 (Bronze - Team), 2011 (Silver - Individual, Bronze - Team), 2010 (Gold - Individual), 2009 (Gold - Individual), 2007, 2006 (Silver - Individual and Team), 2005 (Gold - Team), 2004 (Silver - Team), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 (Gold - Team)

Pan American Games Teams: 2015 (Gold - Team), 2011 (Gold - Individual and Team)

Junior World Championship Teams: 2005 (Gold - Individual and Team), 2004 (Gold - Team, Silver - Individual), 2003, 2002 (Silver - Team), 2001 (Gold - Individual and Team), 2000 (Silver- Team)

Cadet World Championship Teams: 2002, 2001 (Gold), 2000 (Bronze)

Personal: Zagunis made history as a 19-year-old in 2004 when she became the first U.S. fencer to win an Olympic gold medal in 100 years after originally qualifying for the team as a replacement athlete. She is also in the history books as the first Olympic gold medalist for women's saber, which made its Olympic debut at the 2004 Olympic Games. The four-time Senior World Champion defended her Olympic title in Beijing. The daughter of Robert and Cathy Zagunis who were both rowers on the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team, Mariel was the top-ranked fencer in the world at the conclusion of the 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Now the most decorated fencer in the history of the sport in the United States, Zagunis won her fourth career Olympic medal at the Rio Olympic Games, where she led the United States to a bronze medal finish in the team event. The win made her the first U.S. fencer in history to win medals at three Olympic Games.

An all-around athlete who still enjoys playing tennis in her spare time, Mariel competed on her high school's varsity soccer team for three years and began her career as a Notre Dame fencer just weeks after winning gold at the 2004 Olympic Games. After winning the 2006 NCAA Individual Championship, Zagunis took time off from school to focus on preparing for the Beijing Olympic Games. 

In October 2017, Zagunis became a mother, giving birth to her daughter, Sunday Swehla. Exactly one year after her final competition, Zagunis returned to the strip, placing eighth at the Seoul Grand Prix in March 2018 and adding a bronze medal at the Moscow Grand Prix in May. 

Mariel says that her parents are her role models as "they have been through so much [good and bad] in their lives and have dedicated so much to their children that has enabled us to achieve greatness on many different levels.  They have made me the person I am today and I never could have learned so much about life or how to work as hard as I do from any other two people.  Through them I have been able to grow and understand what is truly important in life and how to reach any goal I set for myself.  No matter how daunting a task may be, I know my family will always be there to support me and help me." through it."