Lauren Scruggs wins gold

Lauren Scruggs, a 21-year-old fencer from Queens, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the women's fencing team foil competition, marking the first-ever gold for the U.S. in this event. Earlier in the week, she secured a silver medal in the individual foil, becoming the first Black American woman to win an Olympic fencing medal. Scruggs' contributions helped the American team defeat Italy 45-39, overcoming a previous loss to them in the Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, her victories aim to inspire greater diversity in fencing, a sport she acknowledges has historically lacked representation. Scruggs, who studies philosophy at Harvard, hopes her achievements encourage young Black girls to pursue the sport. Her remarkable Olympic debut has garnered significant attention and support from both her community and fencing peers.