SANTIAGO, Chile — Team USA’s fencers arrived in Santiago with the goals of earning medals, experiencing the unique charms of a multisport competition and getting in some high-quality bouts just before the start of the FIE season.
Missions accomplished.
The U.S. fencers have completed their stay at the 2023 Pan American Games, recording a table-topping 11 medals: eight gold and three silver. That haul matches Team USA’s fencing medal count from 2019. At those Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, the U.S. won 10 gold medals and one bronze.
While our friendly rivals from Canada earned more total fencing medals (12), Team USA dominated the gold medal column. U.S. fencers and teams won eight of the 12 available golds, ensuring the DJ inside Centro de Deportes Paralímpicos kept “The Star-Spangled Banner” near the top of his queue.
On Saturday, the sixth and final day of fencing, the trio of Andrew Doddo (New Jersey Fencing Alliance), Filip Dolegiewicz (Midwest Fencing Club) and Josef Cohen (Peter Westbrook Foundation, Fencers Club) earned a silver medal, falling to Canada in the tournament’s final match.
While the three were disappointed not to earn gold, they’ll grow from this experience and can use it as fuel to push into the FIE (International Fencing Federation) season, which begins for Team USA’s saber fencers next weekend in Algeria.
When the fog cleared and the music went silent, Team USA can be proud of its journey to South America — a journey that included at least one medal every day of the competition and plenty to build on as the road to the Paris Olympics continues.
Tag(s): Updates 2023 Pan Am Games