Name: Mariel Zagunis

Position: Saber

Sport: Fencing

Discipline(s): Saber Fencing

Event(s): Individual, Team

Height: 5-8

Weight: 160

DOB: 3/3/1985

Birthplace: Portland, Ore.

Hometown: Portland, Ore.

High School: Valley Catholic High School (Beaverton, Ore.) '06

College: University of Notre Dame ’13, Anthropology

Team/Club: Oregon Fencing Alliance

Coach(es): Ed Korfanty

Olympic Experience

• Five-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020); four-time Olympic medalist (2 golds, 2 bronzes)
• Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, 5th (individual), 6th (team)
• Olympic Games Rio 2016, bronze (team), 9th (individual)
• Olympic Games London 2012, 4th (individual)
• Olympic Games Beijing 2008, gold (individual), bronze (team)
• Olympic Games Athens 2004, gold (individual)
• First U.S. Fencer to medal at three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2016)

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2019 – 7th (team), 14th (individual)
• Years of participation: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
• Medals: 14 (5 golds, 5 silvers, 4 bronzes)
• Gold – 2014 (team); 2010 (individual); 2009 (individual); 2005 (team); 2000 (team)
• Silver – 2014 (individual); 2011 (individual); 2006 (individual); 2004 (team)
• Bronze – 2015 (team); 2013 (team); 2012 (team); 2011 (team)

Other Career Highlights

• 2015 Pan American Games, gold (team); 8th (individual)
• 2011 Pan American Games, gold (individual, team)

Personal: Daughter of Catherine and Robert Zagunis...Has two brothers, Marten and Merrick...Parents were both rowers on the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team...Married to Michael Swehla in 2013...Hobbies include cooking, running, hiking, gardening, volunteering, running and playing tennis...Has fenced with her coach, Ed Korfanty, since she began the sport at age 10...Most decorated fencer in the history of USA Fencing...Inducted into the FIE Hall of Fame in 2013...Made history at age 19 in 2004 when she became the first U.S. fencer to win an Olympic gold medal in 100 years...Served as the Opening Ceremony flag bearer for the U.S. delegation at the London 2012 Olympic Games...Her greatest source of inspiration in fencing has been Valentina Vezzali, a six-time Olympic champion in foil fencing.

More