US Olympic Fencing Team 2012: Updated News & Analysis for America's Squad

Fencing has been in the Olympics since the first Olympiad in Greece in 1896.

From its days of having three events awarded with medals to now with 10 medals awards, fencing is one of the more interesting sports in my book.

Contested in individual foil, épée and sabre, and team foil and sabre in this year's Olympics, the U.S. has shown improvement over the last few Olympics.

In total, the U.S. has won the sixth most Olympic fencing medals with 20. France is first with 115, while Italy is second with 114.

U.S. took home silver in the men's team sabre and women's team foil, and bronze in the women's team sabre in the 2008 Olympics. The women also dominated in the individual sabre competition, sweeping the medals as Mariel Zagunis won her second-straight gold, with Sada Jacobson took silver and Rebecca Ward took bronze.

Here's a look at the team the U.S. will send to the 2012 London Olympics.

Fencer: Miles Chamley-Wilson

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Team Gold (2011 Pan-American Games), Individual Bronze Division I Fencing National Championships.

World Ranking: 31

Outlook: Chamley-Wilson is very green when it comes to Olympic fencing, but is slowly making his way on the scene. Although I don't expect to see much from him in this Olympics, I fully expect him to be a contender in 2016. I don't think it's out of the question for Chamley-Wilson to make it to the round of 16, but past that, I don't like his chances. 

Fencer: Race Imboden

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments:Team Gold (2012 Junior World Championships), Bronze (2012 Paris and Seoul World Cups)

World Ranking: 4 (Senior)

Outlook: At 19, Imboden is another green fencer for the U.S. This is going to be his first real experience with competition of this caliber. It's honestly not looking good for him as I don't see him getting out of the first round. 

Fencer: Alexander Massialas

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Individual and Team Gold (2011 Pan-American Games)

World Ranking: 11 (Senior)

Outlook: The son of a former Olympic fencer, Massialas is the youngest of this group at 18-years old. Although he may not have any Olympic experience, he has the advantage of having a coach (and dad) who have competed in the Olympics before. That alone, could help him get over the nervousness that will come with the opening round or two of the Olympics. I think he'll pull upsets in the first two rounds and make it to the round of 16.

Fencer: Seth Kelsey

Olympic Experience: 2004, 2008

Accomplishments: Team Gold (2012 World Championships, 2011 Pan-American Games and 2011 Pan-American Championships), Individual Gold (2011 Pan-American Games)

Outlook: Kelsey is one of the more experienced fencers for Team USA. He finished 17th at the 2008 Olympics and has only gotten better. I can definitely see him competing for a medal if the draw falls his away. But, my prediction is that he will be eliminated in the round of 16.

Fencer: Soren Thompson

Olympic Experience: 2004

Accomplishments: Team Gold (2012 World Championships, 2011 Pan-American Games and 2011 Pan-American Championships), Individual Gold (2011 Pan-American Championships).

Outlook: Thompson took seventh in the 2004 Olympics and was injured during the 2008 Olympics, not allowing him to compete. Having gone into the business world, Thompson decided to make a return a few years ago to go for his second Olympics. Thompson has struggled a little bit this year, but he has the Olympic experience that many others don't. Like Kelsey, I think he'll make it to the round of 16 before he gets eliminated.

Fencer: Daryl Homer

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Team Bronze (2012 USA Fencing National Championships and Moscow World Cup), Individual Seventh place (Moscow World Cup)

World Ranking: 12

Outlook: Homer is slowly climbing up the fencing ranks and the Olympics look like it could be his coming out party. His highest individual finish was seventh at the Moscow World Cup. He seems to be one of the U.S. fencers with the most promise. I'm predicting that he loses in the Bronze Medal match.

Fencer: Tim Morehouse

Olympic Experience: 2008

Accomplishments: Individual Silver (2012 USA Fencing National Championships), Team Bronze (2012 Moscow World Cup and 2012 USA Fencing National Championships), Individual 15th place (Warsaw Grand Prix).

World Ranking: 26

Outlook: Morehouse took home a team silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He's succeeded on the team level in recent competitions, but has struggled in individual competitions. My guess is that he'll make it to the round of 32 and no further in this Olympics.

Fencer: James Williams

Olympic Experience: 2008

Accomplishments: Individual Gold (2012 January North American Cup and 2012 USA Fencing National Championships), Team Bronze (2012 Moscow World Cup and 2012 USA Fencing National Championships).

World Ranking: 32

Outlook: Williams was another member of the 2008 team that took home the silver medal, and has been ranked as high as 18th in the world. Being the reigning national champion is something he can certainly build on. He has the ability to pull upsets in Olympic competition and I think it will get him to the round of 16.

Fencer: Lee Kiefer

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Individual Gold (2012 January North American Cup - Division I and 2012 January North American Cup - Junior), Team Eighth-Place (2012 Budapest World Cup), Individual 10th place (2012 Torino World Cup).

World Ranking: 7 (Senior)

Outlook: Kiefer is just 18-years old and has a long career ahead of her. With that said, I don't see her doing much more than getting out of the first round in these Olympics. Too much inexperience against Olympic-level competition will spell her doom, but she'll be back for the 2016 Olympics.

Fencer: Nzingha Prescod

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Individual Gold (2011 Junior World Championships), Team Gold (2011 Pan-American Championships and 2011 Pan-American Games), Team Silver (2011 Junior World Championships), Individual Bronze (2011 Pan-American Championships).

World Ranking: 15 (Senior)

Outlook: Prescod had a pretty good 2011. She's won on every level and she's now making her attempt at the Olympic level. Of course, there will be questions about it being her first Olympics, but if there's anyone who won't be affected by it, it will be her. I'm predicting that Prescod will make it to the round of 16.

Fencer: Nicole Ross

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Team Gold (2011 Pan-American Championships), Team Seventh Place (2011 Senior World Championships), Individual Ninth Place (2011 Pan-American Championships), Individual 14th place (2011 Senior World Championships).

World Ranking: 33

Outlook: Ross has had a little success in the U.S., but has struggled on the world stage, and against lesser competition. When it comes to the Olympics, she's going to be overmatched from the outset. I honestly don't see her getting past the first round.

Fencer: Courtney Hurley

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Individual Gold (2011 USA Fencing National Championships and 2012 NCAA Championships), Individual Silver (2012 January North American Cup - Division I), Individual Eighth Place (2012 Rio de Janeiro World Cup).

World Ranking: 15

Outlook: Hurley has ascended the ranks of international fencing and looks primed to compete for a medal in her first Olympics. Over the last two years, she's shown she can compete with the best in the world and will look to prove that again in London. My best guess for her is that she'll make it to the quarterfinals, and could possibly pull an upset to make it into the semifinals.

Fencer: Maya Lawrence

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Individual Gold (2012 Pan-American Championships), Team Gold (2011 Pan-American Championships), Team Silver (2012 St. Maur World Cup), Individual Seventh Place (Pan-American Championships).

World Ranking: None

Outlook: Lawrence is the surprise for me when it comes to fencers competing in the Olympics. Although I wouldn't say she came out of nowhere, not many fencing experts expected her to be on Team USA. However, she earned her place and now she's going to have her chance to show the world what she can do at the Olympics. My prediction is that she makes it to the round of 32.

Fencer: Susannah Scanlan

Olympic Experience: None

Accomplishments: None provided

World Ranking: None

Outlook: Finding information on Scanlan was rather difficult. But, from what I have, it looks as if she can do well in London. Recently, she finished 16th at the Budapest Grand Prix, which put her in third place in the U.S. rankings. However, she finished 26th in the Division I National Championships soon after, which luckily didn't knock her out of the top three. Scanlan is looking a little shaky heading into London, but I still think she can pull it together and make it to the round of 32.

Fencer: Dagmara Wozniak

Olympic Experience: none

Accomplishments: Team Gold (2012 Gent World Cup), Team Silver (2012 Bolgna World Cup), Team Bronze (2012 World Team Championships), Individual Sixth Place (2012 Gent World Cup), Individual Eighth (2012 London World Cup)

World Ranking: 12

Outlook: Wozniak is firing on all cylinders and that's exactly what you want to see out of a fencer heading into the Olympics. Although her world ranking is 12th, I'd actually put her in the top seven or eight. She has poise and the ability to focus, even when she's down. I'm predicting a bronze medal for Wozniak in London as I think she has it in her to get through the competition, falling just short of the final.

Fencer: Mariel Zagunis

Olympic Experience: 2004, 2008

Accomplishments: Individual Gold (2004 and 2008 Olympics, 2012 Orleans Grand Prix, 2012 Tianjin Grand Prix), Team Gold (2012 Gent World Cup), Team Silver (2012 Antalya World Cup and 2012 Bolgna World Cup), Individual Bronze (2012 Gent World Cup, 2012 Bolgna World Cup, 2012 Moscow World Cup, 2012 Antalya World Cup), Team Bronze (2008 Olympics)...I could honestly go on and on.

World Ranking: 1

Outlook: When it comes to the best-of-the-best in women's Olympic fencing, there aren't many better (in any event) than Zagunis. The two-time defending Olympic gold medalist, Zagunis is zeroed in. In my opinion, there's no stopping her. I don't believe it's going to be a question of who wins the gold medal, but more of who will get the honor of losing to Zagunis and earn the silver medal. Okay, that may be a little cocky, but I just don't see any other fencer in the world stopping her. Zagunis is looking to become the second female fencer in Olympic history to win three-straight individual medals, next to Italy's Valentina Vezzali.