Byron Krieger
Encyclopedia
Byron Lester Krieger was an American foil
, sabre
, and épée fencer
. Krieger represented the United States in the Olympics in 1952 and 1956. He was officially rated as one of the nation's top 10 fencers for 15 years during his career.
. He attended Wayne State University
in Michigan
, and was the NCAA champion in foil in 1942. He was 62–7 in dual meets at WSU, including 30–0 in foil. He was WSU's first All-American.
s in team foil and team sabre at the 1951 Pan American Games
. He came in 6th in both the individual foil and sabre events.
for the United States in the 1950s.
At the 1952 Helsinki
Games, Krieger competed in the team foil event, and the U.S. reached the quarterfinals.
At the 1956 Melbourne
Olympics, in the individual foil competition, Krieger finished 8th in his first-round pool and was eliminated, while the U.S. team that he was on reached the finals in the team competition. The U.S. finished 4th overall as they lost to France, Hungary, and Italy. Krieger competed in the matches against France and Italy and was the first American fencer to beat the French two-time Olympic champion Christian Doriola. Among Krieger's teammates at both the 1952 and 1956 Games were International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame members Albert Axelrod
and Daniel Bukantz.
in Israel.
He was elected to the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1974.
Krieger was inducted into the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
He was inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame' in 1986
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
, sabre
Sabre
The sabre or saber is a kind of backsword that usually has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger...
, and épée fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
. Krieger represented the United States in the Olympics in 1952 and 1956. He was officially rated as one of the nation's top 10 fencers for 15 years during his career.
College
Krieger graduated from Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern High School (Michigan)
Northwestern High School is a secondary education facility in Detroit, Michigan. The most recent enrollment figures for Northwestern indicate a student population of approximately 2,000. Northwestern High School features numerous extracurricular activities; including: Debate, US Army JROTC,...
. He attended Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and was the NCAA champion in foil in 1942. He was 62–7 in dual meets at WSU, including 30–0 in foil. He was WSU's first All-American.
Pan American Games
Krieger won gold medalGold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s in team foil and team sabre at the 1951 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
. He came in 6th in both the individual foil and sabre events.
Olympics
Krieger was a two-time OlympianOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
for the United States in the 1950s.
At the 1952 Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Games, Krieger competed in the team foil event, and the U.S. reached the quarterfinals.
At the 1956 Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
Olympics, in the individual foil competition, Krieger finished 8th in his first-round pool and was eliminated, while the U.S. team that he was on reached the finals in the team competition. The U.S. finished 4th overall as they lost to France, Hungary, and Italy. Krieger competed in the matches against France and Italy and was the first American fencer to beat the French two-time Olympic champion Christian Doriola. Among Krieger's teammates at both the 1952 and 1956 Games were International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame members Albert Axelrod
Albert Axelrod
Albert Axelrod, known as Albie, , was an American foil fencer...
and Daniel Bukantz.
Maccabiah Games
In 1957 Krieger, who is Jewish, won the gold medal in saber and bronze medal in foil at the Maccabiah GamesMaccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
in Israel.
Halls of Fame and awards
Krieger received the Detroit Sports Guild Outstanding Athlete Award in 1951.He was elected to the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1974.
Krieger was inducted into the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
He was inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame' in 1986
Miscellaneous
- Krieger won 55 State and Midwest titles in all three fencing weapons, including all three weapons in the same year five times.
- Krieger met his wife Jocelyn Ruth while training in New York City for the 1956 Olympics. In 2008 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have six children and 14 grandchildren.