The impressive educational backgrounds of the two female fencing athletes who won gold medals at the Paris Olympics.

While pursuing a high-performance athletic career, Vivian also pursued her education. After graduating from high school, she majored in international relations at the prestigious Stanford University in the United States. The 30-year-old athlete also holds a master's degree in law from Renmin University of China.

Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree in law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Vivian is creating a sensation in her homeland after winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

Chinese media reports indicate that many fencing schools in Hong Kong are seeing a dramatic increase in student numbers. Both adults and children are flocking to fencing centers to enroll in classes. In particular, many parents are deciding to enroll their children in fencing after learning that the sport is considered an intellectual sport.

Besides Vivian Kong, the academic journey of American athlete Lee Kiefer (30 years old) has also attracted much attention. She won gold medals in the women's individual foil and women's team foil events at the 2024 Olympics.

During her competitive career, Lee won three gold medals at two Olympic Games. She is considered the most accomplished female foil fencer in American sports history.

Before Lee, no American fencer had won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in the individual event.

Lee Kiefer graduated with a degree in science from Notre Dame University and then went on to study pharmacy at the University of Kentucky. Fencing is a shared passion in the Lee family. Her father, a neurosurgeon, also pursued fencing.

Lee, along with her older sister and younger brother, all pursued fencing at an early age and became professional athletes. Lee's older sister, Alex Kiefer, was a renowned fencer in the United States. Alex studied at Harvard University and is now a doctor.

Lee's husband, Gerek Meinhardt, is also a professional fencer who has participated in the Olympic Games four times.

When international media investigated the personal lives of Vivian Kong and Lee Kiefer, they were astonished by the educational paths they pursued alongside their athletic careers.

In fact, fencing has always been considered a highly intellectual sport. The high level of education of skilled fencers further strengthens this perception.

Why is fencing considered an intellectual sport?

Fencing requires a combination of physical strength, endurance, and quick tactical thinking. The challenges that fencers frequently face are often psychological warfare challenges.

Often, skilled fencers are also psychologically astute; they possess strong mental fortitude and know how to read their opponents. Some psychological warfare requirements for fencers include:

Intense concentration: This concentration is used to observe the opponent's movements, anticipating their sword strokes and responding quickly and accurately. Maintaining such intense concentration throughout a match is a challenge that not everyone can overcome.

Emotional control: Emotional control is a crucial requirement in fencing. Fencing practitioners must maintain good emotional control during competition, absolutely avoiding allowing chaotic emotions to distract from concentration.

Quick thinking and adaptability: Fencing is often compared to chess, as athletes must quickly observe their opponent's moves and devise appropriate strategies during the match. Therefore, fencing is considered a psychologically challenging sport that demands sharp strategic thinking.