Athletes

Mariel Zagunis is a two-time medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Her most distinguished achievement, however, was when she made history at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, becoming the first U.S. fencer in 100 years to win an Olympic gold medal. She is also in the history books as the first Olympic gold medalist for women’s saber, which she earned during the 2004 Games. Her Olympic accomplishment was all the more impressive when you consider that she was originally a replacement athlete for the 2004 U.S. team.

Zagunis attends the University of Notre Dame, where she is majoring in anthropology, but put school on hold in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. She fenced on the varsity level for two seasons (2004-2005 and 2005-2006), winning the NCAA individual championship title in 2006 and the NCAA team championship title in 2005.

Zagunis, who prides herself on her ability to persevere, is the youngest fencer to win a gold medal at a world championships at age 15 in 2000. She was the Women’s Sports Foundation/Secret Sportsgirl for Oregon in 2002 and USOC Female Athlete of the Month for April 2001. Zagunis appeared in Sports Illustrated’s "Faces in the Crowd" in the May 2001 issue.

When not fencing, Zagunis enjoys playing and watching tennis, relaxing bike rides, playing soccer and volunteering in environmental preservation activities. Zagunis is the daughter of Robert and Cathy Zagunis, who were both members of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team for rowing and competed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She stated, "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. No matter how daunting a task may be, I know my family will always be there to support me and help me through it." (9/08)