By: Waylon Galvez
Almost a decade ago, then-U.S. President Barack Obama recognized 21 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the honorees was former NBA legend Michael Jordan.
In his introduction of Jordan, Obama remarked:
“There’s a reason you call somebody ‘the Michael Jordan of…’. Michael Jordan is the Michael Jordan of greatness. He is the definition of someone so good at what they do that everybody recognizes it. That’s pretty rare.”
In fencing — particularly in women’s foil — there is one athlete many consider the sport’s “Michael Jordan”: Filipino-American Lee Kiefer.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world, Kiefer has built an extraordinary résumé: three Olympic gold medals, three World Championship titles, six Grand Prix triumphs, and five World Cup golds.
She captured her first Olympic gold in the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021), becoming the first American to win gold in women’s foil. Three years later, she defended her title at the Paris 2024 Olympics and also helped power the U.S. women’s team to a championship, securing her third career Olympic gold medal.
For many, her legacy already puts her in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) conversation.
Philippine Team members Tipoy and Kulai Felipe, coach Ramil Endriano, Gerek Meinhardt, Lee Kiefer, coach Michael Nicanor, Ysah and Opao Catantan, Sammuel Tranquilan, and national team head coach Amat Canlas during the one-day training camp at the Fencing Hall of the Phisports Complex in Pasig City. (Ishoot Sports Phi photo)
Nathaniel Perez, a member of the Philippine fencing team, believes Kiefer’s consistency at the highest level speaks volumes.
“I think she’s only the second woman in foil to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. If you look at her profile, she has won at every level, in every major competition in the world,” Perez said.
Opao Catantan — sister of Paris Olympian and Penn State standout Samantha Catantan — echoes this sentiment.
“For me, she is the GOAT not just because of what she has accomplished in her career, but because of how she has elevated the popularity of fencing on the world stage,” said Catantan, who also plays for the Philippine team.
At 31, Kiefer is eyeing a third straight Olympic gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Still, despite her remarkable career, Kiefer herself points to another legend as the true GOAT: Italy’s Valentina Vezzali.
“I’ve done amazing things, but Valentina Vezzali won three Olympic gold medals, and I would call her the GOAT,” said Kiefer, referring to the Italian fencer’s Olympic victories in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008.
Overall, Vezzali amassed six Olympic gold medals — three in individual foil and three in team events — plus one silver and two bronze medals. She also dominated the World Championships, collecting 16 titles, including seven in individual foil.
Just last week, Kiefer and her husband, fellow Olympian Gerek Meinhardt, inspired about 60 young Filipino fencers at a one-day training camp held at the Fencing Hall of the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
“It was great. The kids gave great effort, they worked really hard, and they had a lot of fun — two things that are very important in our fencing careers,” Kiefer said.
“Maybe in the future, if we can make the schedules work, we’d love to be back if we’re invited again.”
