Kamara James dies - USA Fencing has on Tuesday announced the death of Olympic fencer Kamara James.
The 29 year from Queens, N.Y reportedly died in Modesto, CA last month. Reports from the Modesto Bee indicates that the athlete "was found dead in her Modesto apartment" on Sept. 29th. Although the cause of the death is still under investigation the report noted that it "does not appear suspicious."
Kamara James, who is originally from Jamaica, was the only America women epee fencer to represent the US at the 2004 Athens Games. This made her one of the youngest women to represent the country in the sport at just 19 years old.
"Kamara James was one of the brightest, precocious, self assured young people I ever met. From her time as a very young fencer at the Peter Westbrook Foundation to her years at Princeton as an accomplished Olympian she remained warm, caring and confident," USA Fencing President Donald K. Anthony Jr has said.
Reports indicate that although Kamara James battled with mental illness her whole life, she was a bright student, recognized for both her writing and athletic gifts.
"Her lyrical prose - informed by so much of tragic and triumphant life experience - was powerful and compelling. James' good grades and impressive SAT score won her a full scholarship to the Dwight School and then to Princeton University.
"Unfortunately, mental illness proved Kamara's most unrelenting adversary. Still, just prior to her death, she resumed a stable drug regimen, was living comfortably and had begun thinking about the future," Eric Rosenberg said in a statement.
Although she initially lacked competitive fencing experience and the monetary support to get coaching, "her athletic achievements rank her among the elite in US women's epee. She won several Junior Olympic and National titles and a bronze medal at the 2003 Junior World Championships," Rosenberg said.
'Kamara James dies' has been highly discussed on social media since the sad news was reported recently. Many have expressed their condolences and recalled their fondest memories with the Jamaican born athlete via social media. No official funeral plans have been announced by her family yet. Reports indicate that the Fencers Club is planning a memorial for her.
As the skill of Kamara James dies with her, many questions are being asked about the state of African American female participation in fencing.
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