The United States Men's Saber Team hasn't won a medal since 1948. That changed over the weekend. Keeth Smart, a fencing master out of Brooklyn, New York, helped the U.S. team win the silver medal after losing to France. Earlier in the weekend, his sister Erinn Smart helped win the silver in the Women's Team Foil, the first ever for the women's team and first foil medal for the U.S. since 1960. These were medals that the U.S. teams were not expected to win, but the siblings' perseverance shined through.
"This year has been one of the hardest years of my life as well as one of the greatest years of my life," Keeth told Reuters after winning the silver medal. "I've been on a rollercoaster. I'll probably take a deep breath and it will all hit me. I'm still on an emotional high."
Regardless of being the underdogs, Keeth and Erinn had to overcome personal trials and tribulations of their own. They lost both of their parents and Keeth himself almost died in April. Keeth was diagnosed with a rare blood disease that caused a low platelet count and doctors told him he could die of internal bleeding within two days. After weeks of intensive care and Erinn by his side, Keeth got better, but their mother succumbed to cancer shortly thereafter. The siblings already lost their father in 2005 after he suffered a heart attack while jogging.
"I'm proud of my medal, but I'm even more proud of Erinn's," Keeth told USOC's Aimee Berg. "She comes home jetlagged from Korea, finds out I might die [from the blood disorder] and came right from the airport to the hospital. Then she flew to Florida because our mother was dying. I knew she wanted this medal so bad. I'm so proud of her. It's the best ending in the world."
1. Good job on the Silver, USA team!
Q at 11:27PM on Aug 18th 2008