N.J. fencer foiled in second round

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece -- Dan Kellner's entry in the Olympic men's individual foil competition was worth the wait, even if it came to an earlier conclusion than he'd hoped Monday at the Helliniko Fencing Hall.

Kellner, who quit fencing for a year after failing to make the U.S. Olympic squad in 2000, won his first match at the 2004 Games over eighth-seeded Cedric Gohy of Belgium but lost his second in disappointing fashion. Great Britain's Richard Kruse scored the last three points to win 15-14.

"That happens. It's fencing," Kellner said. "I was real happy to win my first match. I beat the No. 8 guy in the world. I felt like I was in control at the end of the last match, but it just got away from me. He made a slight change that I didn't adjust to, and it didn't go my way.

"I can't be too upset. I made the final 16 of the Olympics. I wanted to fence well, and I did."

Kellner, from Warren, N.J., now prepares for Saturday's men's foil team competition. The U.S. is seeded seventh among eight teams but has beaten the second-seeded Germans, whom they face in the first round.

The U.S. foil team captain, Kellner, 28, has been the top-ranked American man in foil the past two years. He won individual and team gold medals at the 2003 Pan Am Games.

Cheered on by friends and family members and several random American fans in the noisy former airplane hanger, the 25th-seeded Kellner outpointed Gohy 15-12 in his Olympic debut.

He returned to the same strip an hour later to duel Kruse, the 24th seed. But the left-hander couldn't put it away after taking a 14-12 lead. Kruse then lost to top-seeded Andrea Cassara of Italy in the quarterfinals.

"Dan and I are pretty equal in talent, and I was just able to get some touches at the end," said Kruse, who feigned fatigue on one point to invite Kellner's attack, which he repelled and earned a touch.

A 1998 graduate of Columbia University, Kellner gave up fencing after he finished second at Nationals for the third time in 2000.

One year to the day later -- 25 pounds overweight, determined to kick a smoking habit and "miserable," he said -- Kellner returned to fencing and ultimately reached his Olympic goal.

"It's been a dream come true," said Kellner, who took up fencing at age 13 after seeing it in a video game. "Marching in the Opening Ceremonies and my parents (Stuart and Sherry) seeing me . . . it's unbelievable coming through that tunnel. One of the best experiences of my life."

Kellner was hoping to become the first American man to win an individual foil medal since Albert Axelrod in 1960. He'll continue competing in hope of making the 2008 Games in Beijing.

Athlete Initiative Inc., the non-profit foundation he founded in 2001 to financially support Olympic hopefuls, will help get him there. Kellner is also a web and graphic designer who worked for the "Rosie O'Donnell Show" in 2001 and 2002, receiving two Daytime Emmy nominations.

"Even though I lost (Monday), it was definitely worth not making the Olympics in 2000, quitting, coming back, working real hard," he said. "I wish I could have made the Olympic final eight, but I got close. I know I left it all out on the strip. I couldn't have trained any harder than I did. It was just his day to get the touch."