Wonder Woman of the Week: Mariel Zagunis

Mariel Zagunis, a celebrated American fencer, has etched her name into the history of Olympic sport with unmatched skill and determination. Born in 1985 in Portland, Oregon, Zagunis’s path to Olympic glory began at an early age, when she took up the sport of fencing as a child. Known for her fierce competitiveness and exceptional agility, she quickly rose through the ranks of the fencing world, drawing attention for her lightning-fast reflexes and technical precision. Her breakthrough moment came in 2004 when, at just 19 years old, she won gold at the Athens Olympics, becoming the first American woman to claim a fencing gold in over a century. This victory not only solidified her place in history but also redefined the possibilities for American athletes in the sport of fencing.