Mariel Zagunis

Mariel Zagunis is an American sabre fencer. She won the gold medals in the individual sabre at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is only the second American ever to have won a gold medal in Olympic fencing. She was chosen to be the flag bearer of the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations.

Zagunis' parents, Robert and Cathy Zagunis, were collegiate rowers at Oregon State University and Connecticut College, respectively. They both competed with the U.S. rowing team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Her older brother Marten and younger brother Merrick also fence sabre. She grew up in Oregon and went to Valley Catholic from kindergarten to 12th grade, and then to the University of Notre Dame.

Zagunis is of Lithuanian heritage. The family's surname in Lithuanian is Žagunis.

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