Mariel Zagunis: Breaking Down US Flag Bearer's Gold-Medal Chances

While casual fans in the United States might not know who the flag bearer was last night in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics, you better remember the name Mariel Zagunis.

Zagunis is the best women’s fencer in the world.

The Notre Dame graduate has served America well so far in her career, but winning the past two gold medals in sabre fencing isn't enough for the star.

With another great year, there is little doubt that Zagunis will be fighting for another gold medal.

2004 Athens Olympics

The sport of women’s sabre fencing had never been at the Summer Olympics before 2004, and Zagunis missed qualifying before sneaking into the competition via Nigeria's giving up its spot.

Not only did Zagunis make the 2004 Olympics as the next-best qualifier, but the star was a teenager at the time, and she represented her nation by winning its first fencing gold medal in over 100 years.

With a rise to stardom and a college career upcoming, many people questioned whether Zagunis would come back in 2008 as great as she had been in 2004.

The doubters were wrong.

2008 Beijing Olympics

Not only did the American legend return to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but by then her influence on the sport had become blatantly clear; Team USA finished in the top three spots.

The gold medal went to Zagunis in a wild tournament that featured some of the best action of the entire Olympics, but it is her ability to fight through adversity that has made her the most battle-tested female fencer in history.

Not only did Zagunis continue her dominance in individual sabre fencing, but she also helped Team USA dominate and take home the bronze medal in the team sabre event (which has since been discontinued).

2012 London Olympics

Now that the focus is back to individual competition for Zagunis, the United States' flag bearer will try to bring home the gold medal in the women’s division for the third straight Olympiad.

Not only has the fencing star taken on a larger-than-life stature with her fans, but she has also become the measuring stick for the world. If Zagunis is going to win, she will have to be even better than she was in Athens or Beijing.

With the weight of the sport of fencing—as well as the eyes of a nation that now cares about her because she carried its flag—Zagunis is ready to add another gold medal to her already impressive collection.

Check back for more on the 2012 Summer Olympics as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s Olympics page to get your fill of the best athletes the world has to offer.

Follow @Donald_Wood