Years after his historic Olympic victory, Peter Westbrook is continuing to add diversity to fencing - Spectrum Channel 1 News NYC
PUBLISHED 10:30 PM ET Feb. 24, 2023
ORIGINAL SOURCE HERE: https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/sports/2023/02/24/years-after-his-historic-olympic-victory--peter-westbrook-is-continuing-to-add-diversity-to-fencing
By Edric Robinson, The Bronx
Peter Westbrook is building a fencing dynasty right here in the city.
“This is my greatest achievement creating, and establishing and seeing all the kids,” said Westbrook, discussing his work with the Peter Westbrook Foundation he started and runs.
A 13-time national fencing champion, an Olympic bronze medalist and, let’s not forget, the first African-American to win an Olympic fencing medal — all things Westbrook said he never dreamt of when he started the sport at the age of 13.
“I grew up in the housing projects. No one ever said anything good about me. Only thing that I heard positive things was from my mother, he said. “As soon as I got involved in the sport was the first time I ever heard positive things about me in my life.”
Westbrook’s hard work landed him a scholarship to NYU. He said he was trained by a Hungarian master and was able to represent the United States in a sport that lacked diversity.
For the past 30 years with his foundation, he’s been dedicated to changing that.
“This is a typical European sport. It’s not exposed to the African American community,” Wesbtook explained. “My job is to show the whole country — everyone that watches the program — that, hey, no matter who you are, even people of color that have not been exposed, we can excel.”
The foundation’s success speaks for itself. Since 2000, they’ve sent 16 athletes to the Olympic Games. Two secured silver medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and one brought home the bronze in Rio in 2016.
Westbrook said the best part is that these star athletes become trainers at the foundation as well, working with the next generation of fencers like Queens native and Olympian Curtis McDonald
“One of my favorite moments is watching one of the kids develop whether they were having a difficulty learning a new action or coming out their personality coming out of their shell,” said McDowald, who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is working on making the upcoming Paris team.
Justin Roberts, a 17-year-old Harlem native, said he started fencing with the program when he was in sixth grade.
“I didn’t really know about it at first, I was kind of iffy about it,” said Roberts.
The fencing program boasts a 100% graduation rate with a strong focus on academics. For Roberts, the team here has become more like family.
“The people here the community has helped me to grow as a person and a lot of the people here that I met when I was 11. I’m super close to them. I talk to them here at practice and outside of practice if I ever need help,” said Roberts.
There are currently 104 students enrolled, hailing from all five boroughs. Fencing can be an expensive sport, but the foundation covers most costs.
About 300 students are on a waiting list trying to get in to the program. Parents say it’s worth the wait.
“We wanted them to have Black community around them and Black excellence around them,” said Lisa Orbe-Austin.
“My daughters get to be around Olympians and world champions and national champions and they just see them as their names, they just see them as people,” she said.
Westbrook said he wants this program, which he affectionately calls his church, to live on for years to come.
“The kids think I’m going to live forever and I keep telling them it appears that way, but I probably won’t live forever, so the next thing I do is a succession plan. I have my Olympians, my Olympic medalists will run the program,” said Westbrook.
“I never thought we would see this type of success. All I wanted to do is give back because I’m so grateful I’m so thankful that God has blessed me this way”