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Iris Zimmerman, U.S. Fencer
At the age of eighteen, Iris Zimmerman studies art and music, majoring in piano and flute at
her high school. She is a member of her school's National
Honor Society and on Saturdays she goes to a Chinese
school. Iris Zimmerman is also the youngest national
champion in women's foil in modern history.
Iris has been fencing since she was six years old, following her older sister Felicia's example. Felicia is a world-ranked senior fencer and was on the 1996 Olympic Team. Other role models in Iris' life include her mother, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Muhammed Ali, and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Iris quickly made a name for herself when she became the first U.S. fencer in history to win a World Championship in any weapon or age category, making her the youngest World Champion ever.
This fencer is tough in more than just one sport. The day after she won the World Championship title, she told members of the bout committee what she thought about the size of the women's foil trophy. She sternly pointed out to them how small the trophy was compared to the men's foil trophy. Zimmerman vowed to change that inequality one day and the committee did not doubt her intentions.
Choosing a college is another difficult
challenge in Zimmerman's life at the moment. As she
goes through the overwhelming search to find a college,
she must decide between school and fencing. The colleges
that she is applying to are great for their fencing
program or their academics, but not both. Zimmerman,
however, is choosing between schools that are offering
her full scholarships, so she tends to look on the bright
side.
One decision she is sure about is the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. She says that people at school often ask her if she will be going to the Olympics and this keeps the games ever-present in her mind. "My long-term goal is to make the Olympic team and I want to medal in the Olympics. I don't want to make the Olympic team just to say I made the Olympic team. There are a lot of people who make the Olympic team, but what makes you different from the rest is that medal, that piece of metal you get."
[Source: USOC Online]
