Lauren Scruggs, who was born in Queens, won silver and became the first Black woman from the United States to win an individual medal in a women's fencing event.
Not only is Scruggs an Olympic medalist, but she is also a student at Harvard University.
She says her upbringing and balancing her athletic and academic life have helped her when she competes.
The 21-year-old says she wants others to see her win as an opportunity to break barriers.
"Just growing up in the environment has made me a solid fencer because of those hardships, and I think my success in fencing has helped break stereotypes about what Black people can do and who can be a fencer," Scruggs said.
It has been a meteoric rise for Scruggs who only made a senior fencing team last year.
RELATED | Olympic medal count by country: Here is the complete list of Paris Olympics winners
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