Peter Westbrook is breaking down boundaries and creating a fencing dynasty in the city.
Westbrooks, a 13-time national fencing champion, Olympic bronze medalist, and the first African American to win an Olympic fencing medal is showing the world to chase their dreams—no matter how big or small they are.
“I grew up in the housing projects. No one ever said anything good about me. Only thing I heard was from my mother,” Westbrook 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 attend NYU and take his fencing career to the next level. He said he was given the opportunity to be trained by a Hungarian master and was able to represent the United States in a sport that lacked diversity. Now, he wants to teach others how to leave their mark, too. For the past 30 years with the Peter Westbrook Foundation, he’s been dedicated to changing the narrative that the African American community doesn’t fence. Westbrook believes that his job is to show the country—everyone else who watches the program—that no matter who you are, even people of color who have not been exposed to fencing, the Black community can excel. Since 2000, his program has sent 16 athletes to the Olympics. Two secured silver medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and one brought home the bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016, showing the world there is no obstacle we can’t overcome.