Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs help ensure at least a silver medal for the US in team fencing

United States' Lee Kiefer, right, competes with Canada's Eleanor Harvey in the women's team foil semifinal match during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

By JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP Sports Writer

PARIS (AP) — Lee Kiefer was the standout as the United States beat Canada 45-31 in their women’s team foil fencing semifinal to guarantee at least a silver medal at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Two-time individual gold medalist Kiefer, silver medalist Lauren Scruggs and Jacqueline Dubrovich will face Italy in the final later Thursday after the Italians beat Japan 45-39.

Italy’s team of Alice Volpi, Arianna Errigo and Martina Favaretto is seeded first and the U.S. second in the bracket.

Kiefer went a combined 23-12 in her three matchups, including 13-4 against 16-year-old Canadian Yunjia Zhang when the U.S. had been four points down.

The U.S. already has three fencing medals — one of each color — so far at the Paris Olympics and now has a chance to win two gold medals in fencing at the same Olympics for the first time, as well as a first-ever team gold for the U.S.

An American fencer, Albertson Van Zo Post, won two gold medals at the 1904 St. Louis Games but one of those was a team event in which he competed alongside two Cuban fencers. That medal is officially considered a “mixed team” win, not a U.S. gold.

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games