Olympics: Silver Fencer Keeth Smart and Sister Erinn Smart
Brother and Sister Take Silver in Fencing
Aug 118th 2008 9:00AM by Quibian Salazar-Moreno
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."
Aug 118th 2008 9:00AM by Quibian Salazar-Moreno
Latest Olympics Pictures
Australia's eventing team members Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks share a hug after receiving their silver medals from Princess Haya, second from left, as Sonja Johnson stands at left, during the medals presentation for the equestrian team Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Japan's Yoshiaki Oiwa rides Gorgeous George during show jumping portion of the equestrian Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Gina Miles of the Unites States celebrates her silver medal in the equestrian Individual Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Great Britain's Kristina Cook celebrates her bronze medal in the equestrian Individual Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 with Princess Haya in the foreground. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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British rider Mary King with her horse Call Again Cavalier perfroms at the jumping of the Eventing Individual at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Equestrian in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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British rider Mary King with her horse Call Again Cavalier perfroms at the jumping of the Eventing Individual at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Equestrian in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Germany's Hinrich Romeike receives a hug and his gold medal for the individual Eventing competition from Princess Haya during the medals ceremony at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Gina Miles of the United States rides McKinlaigh during show jumping portion of the equestrian Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. Miles won a silver medal in the individual Eventing competition. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Australia's Clayton Fredericks rides Ben Along Time during show jumping portion of the equestrian Eventing competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. The Australian's won a silver medal in the team Eventing competition. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Empty seats surround fans as they watch the Rainer Schuettler of Germany against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during first round men's singles tennis action at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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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."
Olympics Past and Present in Photos
Olympics 2008: Stars To Watch
Allyson Felix - Track and Field
After wining a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics, sprinter Allyson Felix is looking for more in 2008. The five-foot-six, 125-pound sprinter is very strong for her size. Look for her to challenge in all of the sprinting events in Beijing. Felix is also a devout Christian and feels that her sprinting ability is a gift from the lord.
Demetrius Andrade - Boxing
The amateur welterweight boxer they call "Boo Boo" won the 2007 world championship. Andrade is a clear US medal favorite at 152-lbs. His coach, Robert "Herb" Martin, says, " (Andrade?)has a way of turning up the heat when he needs to. He can put pressure on you and get the win. Everything he throws is pretty much on-point. He's very sharp. He also has a good eye."
Candace Parker - Women's Basketball
Parker was just 10 years old when she watched watched Lisa Leslie win her first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta. Twelve years later, Parker got the chance to help her L.A. Sparks teammate
win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Freddy Adu - Soccer
Soccer-phenom Freddy Adu made history in 2004 by becoming the youngest American athlete in a century to sign a major league pro contract. In the same year, he became the youngest pro athlete to ever school a goal in MLS history. Adu was recently, named to the 18-man squad that will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Look for him to be a leader and fan favorite.
James Blake - Tennis
Best known for his speed and powerful forehand, James Blake has been one of the more prominent American tennis players over the past five years. He is currently ranked 8th in the world. In 2007, Blake compiled another consistent season with two ATP titles in five finals. Look for Blake to play well in the 2008 Olympics.
Lisa Leslie - Women's Basketball
Lisa Leslie is one of the only players to have dunked in a WNBA game, and she is expected to dominate the games this summer. Leslie is looking to win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Jeremy Wariner - Track and Field
A quick fact, Jeremy Wariner is the first caucasian man to win Olympic gold at 400 m since Viktor Markin in 1980. He won two Olympic gold medals in the 2004 games and four World Championships medals. Wariner should be carrying home more hardware in the 2008 games.
Venus Williams - Tennis
Venus is one-half of the Olympic gold-medal winning Williams sisters from Compton, Calif., have dominated womens tennis for a decade and plan to win gold again in Beijing.
Tyson Gay - Track and Field
America's 100-meters world champion Tyson Gay had a nasty fall and hamstring injury in the Olympic trials that
some thought would kill his chances at competing. Gay's 100-meter performance in Indianapolis is the second-fastest ever time into a headwind, trailing 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene. The Kentucky-native became only the second man in history to win titles in the 100-meters, 200-meters and the 4x100-meter relay.
Serena Williams - Tennis
As the other half of the world famous Williams sisters, Serena will play through a left knee injury in the weeks before the games despite advice from a doctor-and her father-that she rest before the Olympic games.
