Lauren Scruggs made U.S. Olympic history by winning silver in women’s individual foil fencing, making her the first Black American woman to earn an individual medal in fencing. Prior to the Olympics, she won an individual gold medal in 2023 at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Before that, she won the 2020 junior world championship.
“It’s just unbelievable,” the six-time world champion shared with Today after winning her Olympic medal last month. “Seeing my family in the stands and being able to fence in front of all those people in Paris in that great building was just insane to me. Just to have the medal over me and feel the weight was heavy, was unbelievable.”
Scruggs started fencing when she was only seven years old. She was introduced to the game by her brother Nolen. According to the Washington Post, Nolen loved Star Wars as a kid and viewed fencing as his way to duel with a lightsaber.
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Their mother later signed him up at a local club after spotting an ad. However, after a few lessons, he wanted to quit but kept going because their mother had already paid for the equipment and wouldn’t allow him to stop. For Scruggs, she kept tagging along, the Washington Post noted.
Today, Scruggs is exploring ways to eliminate barriers in the sport for blacks. According to her, fencing is an expensive sport associated with prep schools and the Ivy League.
“From a young age, I really had to prove myself to get respect,” Scruggs said. “It’s the little things. Maybe no one’s cheering for you, things like that.”
Beyond the game of fencing, the 21-year-old Harvard student has shown interest in business. As per her LinkedIn account, the Queens, New York native has involved herself in the Harvard University Black Consulting Group and Harvard Alternative Investment Society, among others. Also, she recently completed a summer internship with Bank of America.
“Thank you Bank of America Private Bank for another amazing summer and for being supportive as I prepare for the Paris Olympics!” she wrote a week prior to her making history. “Albeit short, I had a fantastic internship and I learned a lot from some amazing people. Lastly, a special thanks to Ruthie Fritz for cheering me on everyday in the office and for planning a surprise send off party on my last day.”
