FIL-AMERICAN fencer Lee Kiefer scored a major breakthrough by winning a gold medal in the World Cup after beating Arriana Errigo of Italy in the women's foil finals by the skin of her teeth, 15-14, in Algiers, Algeria on Sunday.
The 19-year old daughter of Teresa Bacani Kiefer, a doctor from Davao who is now based in Kentucky, exacted revenge over world No. 1 Erigo who denied her a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympics. Errigo went on to finish with a silver in Games after bowing to compatriot Elisa Di Francesca in the finals.
News of Kiefer’s win was relayed to Spin.ph by her US-based aunt Martz Angeles Coleman.
“So happy and jumping for joy, my niece Olympian Lee Kiefer won gold at the Algers World Cup over 2012 Italian (Olympic) silver medallist Errigo,” Coleman said in a message.
Kiefer’s US coach Amgad Abd El-Halim Khazbak also told this writer in a message that the win shoved Kiefer to the No. 4 ranking in the world.
“Yes, she is ranked fourth now and our goal (is) not only to go to Rio, but have a medal there,” said Khazbak.
Khazbak added that their next tournament is the Grand Prix in Havana next month which is the qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Algers World Cup was held from February 6-8.
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