Byron Krieger

Byron Krieger

Personal information
Born	(1920-07-20)July 20, 1920 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	November 8, 2015 Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Sport
Sport	Fencing
Medal record Men's fencing Representing  United States Pan American Games 1951 Buenos Aires Team Foil 1951 Buenos Aires Team Sabre Maccabiah Games 1957 Israel Individual Foil 1957 Israel Individual Sabre

Byron Lester Krieger (July 20, 1920 – November 8, 2015) was an American foil, sabre and épée fencer. Krieger represented the United States in the Olympics in 1952 in Helsinki and 1956 in Melbourne.

Krieger was born in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Northwestern High School where he had been a member of the school fencing club under the direction of his English teacher, Beatrice Merriam. The teacher encouraged the boy to start training at Salle de Tuscan Fencing Club. Byron's talent for the sport showed quickly and at age 16 he became the youngest fencer to reach the State Championship finals where he placed 3rd in foil. Byron attended Wayne State University in Michigan, where de Tuscan coached. Krieger began fencing all 3 weapons and captained the varsity team in 1940-42. He was Wayne State's first NCAA champion in foil in 1942. He was 62–7 in dual meets at WSU, including 30–0 in foil. He was named WSU's All-American.

Krieger established himself as a top-ranked fencer competing in an All Star Midwest team against Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. Sectional teams. He also represented the United States in the British-American matches in Toronto where he was undefeated in the U.S. victory.

Krieger won gold medals in team foil and team sabre and the team silver in épée at the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He came in 6th in both the individual foil and sabre events. He fenced 113 bouts in 10 days—more than any fencer from any other country. Krieger was the only American to defeat the Argentine National Champion. In 1957 Krieger won the individual saber championship; a gold medal in the foil team, and a second place in individual foil at the Maccabiah Games in Israel. He was the lone Michigan athlete to represent the United States at the game.

Krieger won 55 state and midwest titles in all three fencing weapons, including all three weapons in the same year five times. Krieger competed twice for the United States at the Olympics. He competed in the team foil event at the 1952 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals. At the 1956 Summer Olympics, he was eliminated in the opening round, and reached the final round in team foil with the American team, placing fourth. Krieger competed in the matches against France and Italy and was the first American fencer to beat the French two-time Olympic champion Christian Doriola.

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