Keeth Smart
Encyclopedia
Keeth Thomas Smart (born July 29, 1978) is a US sabre
fencer who became the first American to gain the sport's #1 ranking for males. He received a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
.
, New York
and grew up in Flatbush
, Brooklyn
, New York City. His parents were Thomas R. Smart Jr. (a production manager and later an economist) and Liz Smart (a teacher). At the urging of his parents, he and his younger sister Erinn
began to learn fencing at the Peter Westbrook Foundation, whose founder, Olympic
sabre bronze-medalist Peter Westbrook
, was his mentor.
Smart graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School
in 1996. He graduated from St. John's University in New York, majoring in finance. He received his MBA from Columbia University
in 2010 and now works at a major bank.
sabre champion in 1997 and 1999, and took second place in 2001.
He was a member of the 1999 Pan American Games
bronze medal team. He has competed in three Olympic Games
. In the individual Olympic men's sabre competition, he placed 30th in the 2000 Olympic Games, 15th in 2004, 4th in the team event, 6th in 2008, and he won the silver medal in the team event. His sister Erinn also earned a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.
In 2002 and 2004, Smart won the US national sabre championship. In 2003, he became the first American to be named the top-ranked fencer internationally.
, North Carolina
. She is a film producer
with an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania
and an MBA from New York University
.
Him and his sister, Erinn, currently coach at the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York.
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...
fencer who became the first American to gain the sport's #1 ranking for males. He received a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Early life and education
Smart was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and grew up in Flatbush
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods.The name Flatbush is an Anglicization of the Dutch language Vlacke bos ....
, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City. His parents were Thomas R. Smart Jr. (a production manager and later an economist) and Liz Smart (a teacher). At the urging of his parents, he and his younger sister Erinn
Erinn Smart
Erinn Smart is a U.S. fencer who is a member of the United States Fencing Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she is competing in the women's individual and team foil events. Smart is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, and is coached by Buckie Leach...
began to learn fencing at the Peter Westbrook Foundation, whose founder, Olympic
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
sabre bronze-medalist Peter Westbrook
Peter Westbrook
Peter Westbrook is a former American sabre fencing champion, active businessman and founder of the Peter Westbrook Foundation....
, was his mentor.
Smart graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech or just Tech, and also administratively as High School 430, is a New York City public high school that specializes in engineering, math and science and is the largest specialized high school for science, technology, engineering, and...
in 1996. He graduated from St. John's University in New York, majoring in finance. He received his MBA from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 2010 and now works at a major bank.
Fencing career
During college, he was the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
sabre champion in 1997 and 1999, and took second place in 2001.
He was a member of the 1999 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...
bronze medal team. He has competed in three Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
. In the individual Olympic men's sabre competition, he placed 30th in the 2000 Olympic Games, 15th in 2004, 4th in the team event, 6th in 2008, and he won the silver medal in the team event. His sister Erinn also earned a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.
In 2002 and 2004, Smart won the US national sabre championship. In 2003, he became the first American to be named the top-ranked fencer internationally.
Personal life
Keeth married Shyra (Cooper) Smart on May 27, 2007 in Chapel HillChapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. She is a film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
with an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and an MBA from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Him and his sister, Erinn, currently coach at the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York.