Smart, a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team, is having the finest season of his career and is on track for the 2004 Olympic Games. A product of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Smart has outshone all other U.S. fencers with the highest ranking ever attained by any American fencer in the F.I.E. world standings.

“This is so important to me because Keeth’s result is monumental,” said founder of the Westbrook Foundation, Peter Westbrook. “Just being the best in the country is phenomenal, but being the best in the world in a sport that has typically been dominated by Europeans, it’s just still too hard to fathom. Keeth has done it all.”

“You have to have a tremendous amount of talent and work harder than everyone else,” said Westbrook. “Keeth has both of those characteristics. And when you have that combination then you have a world-class athlete.”

The U.S.’s hopes are higher than ever as they look forward to Athens in 2004. The last medal that the U.S. won in fencing was by Westbrook in 1984 (bronze).

Q1: What was it like beating a fencing legend like Stanislav Pozdniakov?

KEETH SMART: I think it was amazing. He’s a champion, and I’ve been fortunate enough to surpass him. It will be a nice struggle between us in the events to come. (Peter and Keeth compared beating Pozdniakov to Rulon Gardner beating Russian Alexander Karelin in Sydney.)

Q2: By becoming No. 1 in the world and Sada Jacobson (women’s sabre) at No. 2 in the world, how does this affect the success of USA Fencing?

KEETH SMART: I think the success was set earlier with people like Peter Westbrook and all he accomplished. He gave me something to strive for. It made it seem attainable with hard work and persistence. We are also pretty fortunate to have a good nucleus to practice against, as well as go to competitions with, where they can recognize my weaknesses where I might not notice those weaknesses while I’m in a competition. And when my teammates and I are in training they will help me work on the weakness so that when I go to another competition I can build off that. And I think Sada Jacobson has a similar experience, the girl she trains with is also the same girl that she goes to competitions with

Q3: How has your and Sada’s success, as well as the Titan Games, built a little exposure for U.S. fencing?

KEETH SMART: It’s a great opportunity anytime we can publicize fencing to the national media. It probably still won’t ever be nationally recognized, yet any exposure is great exposure. The Titan Games and being apart of ESPN, hopefully that will grab a little niche of national exposure.

Q4: What is it like to fence in Europe vs. the United States?

KEETH SMART: Especially when your fencing in a dominating country—like three weeks ago we were in Germany for a competition—and they printed up post cards of me, because at the time I was No. 2. They had the event publicized. It’s the same in Moscow, Russia where fencing is so much a part of the culture. Its similar to us watching tennis over here. They recognize all the international athletes and understand the results we achieve. It’s such a different experience to fence in Europe because of the face recognition. They are more knowledgeable about fencing. Fencers in America are pretty anonymous. It’s pretty nice to have a normal life, live in my neighborhood and still have the same friends from high school. Compared to other athletes who are always surrounded by so many people, I feel pretty fortunate just to be able to deal with regular day-to-day things.

Q5: How did you first get involved in the Westbrook Foundation?

KEETH SMART: I first learned about it when I was twelve years old. My father saw an article advertising it. I never had been in Manhattan, being from Brooklyn. It was a whole new experience for me, meeting kids from all different backgrounds. It was a great experience. I was so fortunate that Peter had taken time out of his busy schedule to start such a program.

Q6: Why were you drawn to fencing, versus the more traditional sports?

KEETH SMART: At the time my friends and I played basketball and baseball, so it was something different to do. The opportunity to succeed in those kind of sports is so small. My parents had impressed on me that I needed to be independent. I like the idea of doing something different. There was also the possibility of making an Olympic team, while providing the discipline I needed. It seemed like a great opportunity to me at the time.

Q7a: When did you first dream about becoming an Olympian?

KEETH SMART: I never thought about becoming an Olympian until I met Westbrook. Until then I didn’t know anyone and it seemed an unattainable goal. But when I met Peter that is when it became a reality and I started training for an attainable goal.

Q7b:What did Westbrook and his staff say that made you want to become an Olympian and gave you the confidence to believe you could actually do it?

KEETH SMART: They basically gave me a lot of encouragement in terms of hard work and persistence. And they taught me patience. Fencing is a sport that requires a lot of patience and perseverance to go through the ups and downs, of winning some tournaments and losing others. And I didn’t think I would be able to compete seriously in the Olympics until I was in college. Because that is when I started to produce some significant results.

Q8:What would it mean to you to get the 2012 Olympics in NYC, and what do you think your chances for getting a medal are at the next Olympics?

KEETH SMART: That would be a great opportunity. A lot of people know I fence, but they’ve never had the opportunity to really seen me compete. To watch the Olympics in New York City would be unbelievable. It would allow a lot of my friends and family see me fence for the first time.

I would like to win a medal, but right now it’s so early that I haven’t put that much thought behind it.

PETER WESTBROOK:
It’s not even a question in my mind that Keeth could win a medal in the next Olympics. It may even surpass my bronze. Keeth has been coming in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in every single tournament. And you have to understand that all these world-class tournaments are much more difficult than any other games out there. The Olympics may have the hooplah and the hype, but the world-class tournaments are much more difficult.

Q9:How difficult is it for you to work full time and manage your training schedule?

KEETH SMART: It can be very trying at times, because usually my work hours vary from 7:30-5:30 and I usually put in 40-45 hours a week. But I was fortunate enough to have the discipline from practicing in high school. It’s not as difficult as high school. But it is still hard since my European counterparts are fencing as a full time job and they have nothing else to worry about. They practice all day and then go home and relax. But hopefully all the hard work will reward me somehow, so I’m not too worried about it at this point.

Q10:What is your next challenge, what do you need to focus on now?

KEETH SMART:
There is still a lot of mental preparation, controlling my emotions a little better. I still get a little too excited.