Team USA women’s sabre fencing star Mariel Zagunis, whose grandmother lives in Plum, is focusing her attention on the team event after losing early in the individual tournament Tuesday.
That focus includes sharing her experience with a younger teammate, who also happens to be a Penn State graduate.
Zagunis is competing in her fourth Olympics, but teammate Monica Aksamit is competing in her first.
“It’s great to be on team with such strong athletes and people who can guide me,” Aksamit said.
She told Channel 11 that Zagunis has helped her prepare in many ways.
“Even coming here, what do I pack and what do I expect…what I should be doing.”
Zagunis and Aksamit will be back in action for the sabre fencing team finals Saturday.
“We're all gonna rally our energy into that in a couple of days,” Zagunis said