Carla's Journal: August 18: Historic Day

Historic Day – August 17, 2004 will go into the record books of the US Fencing Association. 100 years after the only gold ever won by a fencer representing the United States in “Single Sticks” at the Olympic Games, the United States can claim its next GOLD medal.

Mariel Zagunis made the record books once again by defeating X Tan of China for the title of the first Olympic Champion in women’s sabre, the first time that event was on the Olympic program. Not only did an American win the GOLD but Sada Jacobson came back on stage to win the bronze. How hard can it be to fence another bout when one has lost the dream of the gold? Sada lost to Tan 15-13, in a bout everyone thought was hers. Tan, though, was not to be outdone and kept fighting back to become the winner and contender for the Gold medal. Mariel dominated the bout with the Romanian fencer, Gheorgrita, to earn the right to vie for the Olympic Gold medal.

Was it exciting? I still shake my head the morning after trying to believe it really happened. I was there for the bronze medal winning bout by Peter Westbrook, in sabre, in 1984, but this was as exciting and unbelievable as in 1984. Of course, these athletes had been showing us throughout the past four years how good they were and Mariel, especially who has broken so many records – the only person to win three gold medals in one World Championships, member of the first gold medal World Championship team, winner of three consecutive Junior World Cup trophies, record breaker in number of medals earned in Junior and Cadet World Championships – 8.

The smile on Mariel’s face when she was awarded that 15th touch is indescribable but the electricity that ran through the ranks of all the Americans in the audience was tangible and raised the hair on everyone’s arms. And then to stand there and hear your National anthem and two American flags being raised in the awards ceremony brought tears to many of us who have struggled to find means by which the athletes could have such an opportunity. The athlete won the medal, the sport overcame its own reluctance to be in the limelight by focusing on the “ring”, on bringing athletes to the top of the world mountain. To all those who worked behind the scenes so that a few could shine for the many, congratulations on a job well done. We will all walk a bit lighter and more erect today and our hearts are filled with exultation and our faces shine with glee and smiles that can’t be stopped. It was a wonderful day and a wonderful celebration hosted by the USOC at its USA House. To them thank you for accommodating our team and celebrating the victories with us.

Let us not overlook another great performance on the day of superlatives – Soren Thompson of San Diego, succeeded to the final 8, the first for men’s epee since 1956 when Dick Pew was 4th in epee in the Olympic Games. Soren fenced masterfully throughout and came so close to defeating Kolobkov of Russia, who went on to win the bronze medal.

This entry is shorter than most as the keeper of the journal is still pinching herself to make sure it is not a dream, it really happened. To have athletes who have so willingly given up much in their lives to climb the summit of amateur sports makes one realize that no matter how much an organization does or spends, it still comes down to the athletes and their coaches, for each sacrifice much to climb the heights of world success. Although the limelight is on the athlete, the task is not done in isolation, it is the coach who struggles to teach the nuances of the game, seeks to create perfection of the simplest and most complex technical aspects of the sport and who sits at the side of the strip willing the athlete to perform to his or her ultimate best. The coaches are truly the unsung heroes and we need to all stand up and applaud their tireless work in behalf of their students. Thank you Ed Korfanty and Arkady Burdan for the blood, sweat and tears you have exuded to push your students to the top of the mountain and for proving to the world that Americans can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.