By: Chantee Lans, NBC17 Reporter
Sabre fencer Mariel Zagunis was the first American to win a gold medal in Beijing during the summer Olympic Games on Saturday. 
 
Junior fencer Zoe Schaper, 14, of Raleigh is training for upcoming local and national tournaments. 
 
The rising high school freshman has competed in sabre fencing for three years. 
 
“I want to be like her because she is so skilled and she knows what she is going to do before she does it, and she has great form and it’s awesome watching her,” explained Schaper.

She trains at NBS Gym in Raleigh.
 
Schaper says her dream is to compete in the Olympic Games. 
 
“It would be amazing. Just being there would be great.  It would be great to go home with a medal too I guess, but being there would be a great accomplishment,” said Schaper.
 
“A bunch of my kids aspire to be Olympians.  It’s always good to have a goal. It is a very difficult road. But if you come in and work hard, there is nothing that can stop you from doing it,” said Wes Caudill, Schaper’s head fencing coach.
 
“I probably won’t stop.  It’s great.  I love it,” said Schaper.
 
Schaper is an incoming freshman at Knightdale High School.
 
She wants to continue competing in sabre fencing through high school and college.