Kamara James Death: Former Olympian Dies At 29, US Fencing Star Had ‘Mental Illness’

By John Santisteban

Oct 17, 2014 02:03 PM EDT

Multiple reports confirmed that former US fencing star Kamara James passed away at 29 years old in Modesto, California - reports that were confirmed by USA Fencing.

USA Fencing president Don Anthony revealed James' death in an official statement where he also expressed sorrow, saying that the former fencer was one of the brightest and precocious athletes that he ever met.

"Kamara James was one of the brightest, precocious, self-assured young people I ever met," Anthony said. "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. Kamara's untimely passing leaves our fencing community very saddened and her spirit, charm and wit will be dearly missed."

James was born in Kingston, Jamaica before he moved to Queens, New York at the age of 10 where she experienced difficulty in adjusting to her new environment. Her family experienced financial troubles, but it did not become a hindrance as she managed to find ways to fulfill her dream of becoming one of the best fencers in the world.

"She was really grounded in terms of knowing how to take the steps she would need to reach any goal," said 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist Keeth Smart of James. "Bar none, Kamara was one of the smartest people I've ever come across. Sometimes the strongest and fastest win, but to have a great career in fencing, you have to be one of the smartest and she definitely was it."

James won the bronze medal during the Junior World Championship in 2003, but she was still a long shot to qualify to the Olympics. However, the then-19-year-old fencer proved her doubters wrong as she managed to earn a berth to the 2004 Olympics in Greece where she became USA's lone representative for the women's epee event.

But while she had a lot of success in her fencing career, James was troubled by a "mental illness" over the past several years with Eric Rosenberg saying that James was still battling the illness before her death.

"Unfortunately, mental illness proved Kamara's most unrelenting adversary. Still, just prior to her death, she had resumed a stable drug regimen, was living comfortably and had begun thinking about the future," Rosenberg said.