Determination is a word commonly used in the context of Princeton fencer Katharine Holmes '17. After taking two years off from school, she came into these Olympics with a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. Unfortunately, a stifling loss forced an unsatisfactorily early exit from the individual épée tournament last Saturday, setting the stage for Holmes to bounce back in the team competition.
Yet, Holmes and her comrades on Team USA had a heartbreaking start to begin the team competition today. A 24-23 loss at the hands of Romania rendered Team USA ineligible for medal contention hours into the day-long tournament.
In the day’s first match, it was Romania who jumped to a threatening lead. Six of nine rounds into the competition, the Romanians held a 13-9 edge over the Americans, with Holmes yet to score. Thereafter, the Princetonian narrowed the lead with a clutch 2-0 victory in the seventh round. Unfortunately, two close rounds afterwards forced Team USA to swallow a one-point defeat. The Romanians would go on to win gold later in the day.
Despite the major setback, Holmes refused to put her head down. In the next two matches, the Princetonian along, with the Hurley sisters Courtney and Katie, outscored their opponents 54 – 46 to secure fifth place, their best possible outcome after the loss to Romania.
In the first of two consolation matches, Holmes highlighted with a 6-5 victory in the second round against France, regaining her offense after struggling to do so in the individual competition. Teammate Courtney Hurley then grabbed the victory for Team USA with a 10-7 advantage in the final, deciding round.
Advancing into the fifth-place match against South Korea, it was Courtney Hurley who closed the day with a clutch victory. After an unusually slow first eight rounds, Hurley outscored Injeong Choi, 13-9, giving way to chants of, “U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.”
The feat, though not ideal, further attests to Holmes’ resilience and prowess as an international competitor. Looking ahead, Holmes has now completed both of her Olympic events, and even though she won’t leave Rio with a medal, she has fulfilled her dream of competing on the world’s greatest stage.
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