Despite hot start, V.I. fencer Schembri-McCord out in 1st round of men's foil

Kruz Schembri-McCord worked years to become a top-notch fencer and reach one of his goals — to compete in the Olympics.

But the first U.S. Virgin Islands fencer to make it to the Games in 40 years saw his efforts end early at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 17-year-old Schembri-McCord, competing in the men’s individual foil, was knocked out in the first round with a 15-8 loss to Canada’s Blake Broszus on Monday morning at Paris’ Grand Palais.

Schembri-McCord, seeded 33rd in the 37-fencer field, pulled ahead early against the 32nd-seeded Broszus, scoring the first three points and leading 6-2 midway through the first period. However, that’s when things fell apart for Schembri-McCord.

Broszus went on to outscore Schembri-McCord 11-2 over the final 1:47 of the first period for a 13-8 lead, then quickly scored the final two points over 33 seconds in the second period to win the match. Broszus would then lose to top-seeded Tommaso Marini of Italy in the second round later Monday 15-9.

Hong Kong’s Cheung Ka Long would claim the gold medal, beating Italy’s Filippoo Macchi in a close final match 15-14. The bronze went to U.S. fencer Nick Itkin, who beat Japan’s Iimura Kazuki 15-12 in the bronze medal match.