Wait ’till Brazil: Imboden believes U.S. fencers will medal in 2016
Park Slope’s Race Imboden felt emboldened, rather than dismayed, following the U.S. men’s fencing team’s loss to Germany, 45-27, on Sunday in the bronze medal match.
After knocking off France, 45-39, to earn a coveted spot in the semifinals and a shot at gold, Team USA fell to eventual champion and top-seeded Italy, 45-24, before the Germans left Imboden and his fellow foilers medal-less for the London Games. But a youthful American squad, spearheaded by the 19-year-old Imboden, with an Olympics worth of experience under its belt, figures to have a much better chance to reach the podium during the 2016 Games in Brazil.
“I don’t think any of our guys at any point let go,” noted Imboden following the loss to the Germans. “We always keep fighting even when we’re down. That’s just how we are. We were the young guys here, but we’re looking ahead to the next few years and we’re only going to get stronger.”