1. Early Life and Education
Keeth Smart's early life in Brooklyn, New York City, was shaped by his family's encouragement to pursue fencing, leading him through a distinguished academic journey alongside his athletic career.
1.1. Birth and Family Background
Keeth Smart was born on July 29, 1978, in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his formative years in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. His father, Thomas R. Smart Jr., was a production manager who later became an economist, and his mother, Liz Smart, was a teacher who had immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. At the urging of his parents, Keeth and his younger sister, Erinn Smart, began learning fencing at the Peter Westbrook Foundation. The foundation's founder, Olympic sabre bronze-medalist Peter Westbrook, became a significant mentor to Smart.
1.2. Education
Smart completed his secondary education at Brooklyn Technical High School, graduating in 1996. He then attended St. John's University in New York City, where he majored in finance and graduated in 2001. Demonstrating a commitment to both his athletic and professional development, he later pursued postgraduate studies, earning a MBA from Columbia University in 2010.
2. Fencing Career
Keeth Smart's fencing career is marked by a series of national and international achievements, culminating in an Olympic silver medal and a historic top international ranking.
2.1. Fencing Initiation
Keeth Smart's journey into fencing began with his sister, Erinn, at the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York City. This foundation, established by Olympic sabre bronze-medalist Peter Westbrook, provided a crucial environment for his development, with Westbrook himself serving as a key mentor.
2.2. Coaching
Throughout his competitive career, Keeth Smart was primarily coached by Yury Gelman, who played a significant role in his training and success.
2.3. Collegiate Career
During his time at St. John's University, Smart was a dominant force in collegiate fencing. He secured the NCAA sabre championship title twice, in 1997 and 1999. He also achieved a strong second-place finish in the NCAA championships in 2001, consistently demonstrating his prowess at the collegiate level.
2.4. National and International Achievements
Smart achieved significant success in national and international competitions. He was a member of the United States team that earned a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. Domestically, he claimed the US national sabre championship title in both 2002 and 2004. A landmark achievement in his career came in 2003 when he became the first American fencer to be named the top-ranked male sabre fencer internationally, a historic milestone for American fencing.
2.5. Olympic Participation and Results
Keeth Smart represented the United States in men's sabre at three consecutive Summer Olympic Games.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, he placed 30th in the individual competition. His second Olympic appearance was at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he improved to 15th in the individual competition and contributed to the team's 4th-place finish.
His most notable Olympic performance came at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In the individual competition, he placed 6th, notably defeating the future three-time individual Olympic champion Áron Szilágyi during the event. The highlight of his Olympic career was winning a silver medal in the men's team sabre event. In the semi-finals, the United States team was trailing Russia 40-35. Smart's crucial performance saw him outscore Russian fencer Stanislav Pozdnyakov 10-4, leading Team USA to a dramatic 45-44 victory. This win advanced the American team to the final, where they secured the silver medal. This marked the first Olympic medal for the US men's sabre team since 1948, ending a 60-year drought.
2.6. Family in Fencing
Fencing is a shared legacy within the Smart family. Keeth's younger sister, Erinn Smart, also achieved Olympic success, earning a silver medal as part of the US women's foil team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, mirroring her brother's accomplishment.
3. Personal Life
Beyond his athletic achievements, Keeth Smart has built a family life and maintained a strong commitment to community engagement.
3.1. Marriage and Family
Keeth Smart married Shyra Cooper on May 27, 2007, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The couple resides in Brooklyn, New York, where they are raising their two children.
3.2. Community Involvement
Both Keeth Smart and his sister, Erinn, are actively involved with the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York City. Their continued participation underscores their dedication to supporting aspiring fencers and giving back to the community that fostered their own athletic journeys.
4. Post-Retirement Career
After concluding his competitive fencing career, Keeth Smart transitioned into the professional world, leveraging his academic background. Following his MBA from Columbia University in 2010, he joined Chelsea Piers Fitness in 2017, where he currently serves as a Senior Vice President.
5. Legacy and Recognition
Keeth Smart's career left an indelible mark on American fencing. As the first American male fencer to achieve the top international ranking in saber, he broke new ground for the sport in the United States. His Olympic silver medal in 2008, which ended a 60-year medal drought for the US men's sabre team, solidified his place in history. Beyond his individual accolades, his continued involvement with the Peter Westbrook Foundation demonstrates his commitment to nurturing future generations of fencers, ensuring his influence extends beyond his competitive years.
Keeth Smart stands at 6 ft tall and weighs 165 lb (165 lb).