Zagunis's career took off when she won the individual sabre at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. This victory made her the first female fencer from the United States to claim an Olympic gold medal. She repeated this feat at the 2008 Games in Beijing, becoming the first US fencer to win more than one Olympic gold medal.

In 2009, she became the first US fencer to win more than two world championship gold medals. She continued her streak by winning her fourth and fifth world titles in 2010 and 2014, respectively. At the 2015 Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile, she became the first fencer from any nation to win six individual Pan American titles.

Honours and Recognition

Zagunis has received numerous awards throughout her career. In 2013, she was inducted into the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Hall of Fame. She was also the United States' flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

In 2010, she was named Athlete of the Decade by the University of Notre Dame and won the US Fencing Athlete of the Year award. In 2009, she received the Chevalier Feyerick Trophy from FIE for sportsmanship and fair play.

Personal Life and Influences

Zagunis holds a degree in Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame. She speaks English and is left-handed. Her parents have been influential figures in her career, while Italian fencer Valentina Vezzali is her idol.

She has a daughter named Sunday, born in October 2017. Zagunis took a year off from fencing to give birth but returned to competition in 2018 at the Grand Prix event in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Future Plans

Zagunis has expressed interest in continuing her fencing career beyond Tokyo 2020. She is considering aiming for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. "I feel like I have more in the tank," she said about her future prospects.

Other Activities

In August 2017, Zagunis joined the athletes' commission of FIE. She also appeared on an episode of 'Chopped', a US television show where celebrity contestants compete in cooking challenges.

Zagunis's journey continues to inspire many aspiring athletes. Her dedication to fencing and her achievements have set a high standard for future generations.