Mariel Zagunis: 3 Things to Know About Team USA's Opening Ceremony Leader

American fencer Mariel Zagunis will lead the US team at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics on Friday night, according to Yahoo! Sports' Maggie Hendricks. 

The 27-year-old Portland, Oregon native will be the flag bearer for the United States and lead the march of more than 500 American athletes into the world's view.

But before you prepare to watch Zagunis lead the Stars and Stripes in London on Friday night, here are three things you should know about her.

No. 1. Olympic Champion

Zagunis won gold at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games in the individual sabre event. In 2004 at Athens, Zagunis became the first American woman to win gold in fencing in a century. Zagunis has also won individual world titles since the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, winning in Antalya in 2009 and Paris in 2010.

Zagunis also helped lead Team USA to Olympic bronze in the team sabre competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The flag bearer will be an integral piece for the Americans' in London. If Zagunis is on her game then they will have a real shot at winning silver or gold in 2012.

No. 2. Her Parents Were Olympic Rowers

Zagunis' parents Robert and Cathy were both members of the 1976 US Olympic rowing team. Both competed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

Unfortunately for Mariel's parents, neither achieved Olympic success quite like her. They both failed to medal during their time in Montreal, but can both revel in the fact that their daughter is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. 

No. 3. Fencing Is In the Family

Fencing is certainly in the Zagunis family. Mariel's younger and older brothers both fence like her, except they don't compete for Olympic gold every four years. Marten and Merrick are their names, and Marten even competed on the Penn State University fencing team when he was younger. 

Although it's not as traditional as football, basketball or baseball, fencing seems to be a great sport to get your kids into early on. Who knows, they might just develop into the next Mariel Zagunis. 

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