Kat Holmes OLY, Scott Rodgers PLY Elected to Team USA Athletes’ Commission

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Three-time Olympian Kat Holmes and three-time Paralympian Scott Rodgers have been elected by their peers to serve as fencing’s representatives on the Team USA Athletes’ Commission (AC), an influential body that serves as the voice of athletes in the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

The Team USA Athletes’ Commission fosters communication between the USOPC and athletes across all Olympic and Paralympic sports. That means the AC advises the USOPC Board of Directors on policy decisions and serves as a “check” to ensure that athletes’ rights, well-being and perspectives are represented. 

Every National Governing Body in the United States has a representative on the AC. For fencing, we actually get two representatives — one for Olympic fencing and one for Paralympic wheelchair fencing because our sport operates under two different International Federations (FIE and WAS). 

Holmes and Rodgers were elected in a vote of their peers. To vote, athletes must have competed internationally any time in the past 10 years.

In addition to serving on the Team USA AC, Holmes and Rodgers will gain automatic voting seats on the USA Fencing Board of Directors.

While Holmes and Rodgers are known names within the fencing community, some members might not know why they chose to run for these positions. While each has their own unique fencing journey, both are dedicated to ensuring that athletes' voices are heard.

Kat Holmes, a three-time Olympian in women’s epee, is no stranger to leadership roles. She has served as the Chair of USA Fencing’s Athletes’ Advisory Council since 2017 and has represented USA Fencing on the USOPC’s Athletes’ Commission since 2020.

Holmes, who retired after competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, shares she wants to continue serving the sport. 

“Since 2017, I have been committed to elevating the athlete voice at every level of our sport and the sports world at large,” she says. “Athletes, with their successes and struggles alike, are the core of our sport and the Olympic movement. We drive ceaselessly forward in pursuit of our goals, and our voices should reach as far.”

Off the strip, Holmes is pursuing a career in medicine as a third-year medical student at Mount Sinai, USA Fencing’s partner hospital. Her ongoing research in fencing sports medicine is a sign of her continued dedication to improving the sport from multiple angles, even after retirement.

Scott Rodgers earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games, and he’s the last American fencer to win a medal at the Paralympics. Rodgers brings more than 30 years of experience to the role. His tenure includes serving as an athlete, referee and board member within the USA Fencing community, as well as working on various international committees.

Rodgers’ mission is clear: advocating for the interests of fellow parafencers. 

“My goals are to help build our parafencing program and community based on honesty, integrity and fair play,” he says. “As an athlete representative, I will work to promote a transparent and fair environment where all can compete cleanly, safely and without fear.”

Rodgers’ advocacy for parafencers aims to ensure that athletes with disabilities receive equal opportunities, fair treatment and the chance to succeed on the world stage.

In addition to Holmes and Rodgers, Olympian Jackie Dubrovich and Paralympian Lauryn DeLuca were selected as alternates for the Team USA Athletes’ Commission by finishing in second place in the Olympic and Paralympic vote. Dubrovich and DeLuca will automatically serve as non-voting members of the Board of Directors with the opportunity to be appointed as voting members by their fellow USA Fencing Athlete Council peers in early December. Both will provide additional support and serve in the event that either Holmes or Rodgers is unable to fulfill their duties.