Ex-Notre Dame Fighting Irish star wins second straight Olympics gold medal

When people think about Notre Dame Fighting Irish stars, they’re usually thinking about football, or baseball or basketball or lacrosse. But there are world-class athletes from the school competing in a ton of different sports. And one of those world-class athletes showed she’s officially the best in the world in her sport over the weekend.

What makes Lee Kiefer even more impressive is just how young she is. And the fact that she really hasn’t even started her real career. Still, the ND alum is making a name for herself in fencing. She’s making a name for herself because she can’t be beaten.

Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star wins her second straight Olympic gold

On Sunday at the Grand Palais, built in Paris in 1900 to glorify French art, Kiefer showed off her own art. The 30-year-old dominated the competition to win Olympic gold, becoming the first U.S. woman to win back-to-back gold medals in foil.

“No matter how much I tried to prepare, there's still so much pressure I put on myself to just fence well and stay present," Kiefer told the media on Sunday after winning the medal. "Each day was a rollercoaster, but here we are at the top.”

There’s more to it than that, too. There’s more than simply winning again, for the second straight Olympics. She can take joy in her husband going for his own win in Paris in the same sport.

Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Gerek Meinhardt, is also competing for the U.S. fencing team in Paris. They both also attend medical school at the University of Kentucky.

“It's so special to have my family [here], all my best friends who I haven't even seen," Kiefer said. "I tried to spot them in the crowd. But it makes it so much fuller."

Even if her husband doesn’t win, the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star has her medals. This year and in 2021. She’s truly the best in the world.