Byron Krieger

Byron Lester Krieger (July 20, 1920 – November 8, 2015) was an American foil, sabre and épée fencer. Krieger represented the United States in the Olympics in 1952 in Helsinki and 1956 in Melbourne, and in the 1951 Pan American Games where he won two gold medals.

Early life Krieger was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, lived in Southfield as an adult, and was Jewish. He graduated from Northwestern High School, He was 62–7 in dual meets at WSU, including 30–0 in foil. He came in 6th in both the individual foil and sabre events. He fenced 113 bouts in 10 days—more than any fencer from any other country. Krieger was the only American to defeat the Argentine National Champion.

In 1957 Krieger won the individual saber championship; a gold medal in the foil team (with Olympic teammate Al Axelrod), and a second place in individual foil at the 1957 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Krieger competed twice for the United States at the Olympics. He competed in the team foil event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, reaching the quarterfinals. Krieger competed in the matches against France and Italy, and was the first American fencer to beat the French two-time Olympic champion Christian d'Oriola. The entire USA Foil Fencing Team at the 1956 Olympics was Jewish, with the other Jewish fencers being Daniel Bukantz, Albert Axelrod, Nathaniel Lubell, and Harold Goldsmith.

Halls of Fame and awards Krieger received the Detroit Sports Guild Outstanding Athlete Award in 1951. and the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 in West Bloomfield, Michigan/ He was officially rated as one of the nation's top 10 fencers for 15 years during his career.