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- A USA Fencing coach has died in a motorcycle accident just days after returning home from the Olympics.
- Anthony 'Buckie' Leach, 62, died on Saturday, August 14, USA Fencing announced.
- Leach had coached at five Olympics in his career, and helped US athlete Lee Kiefer win gold in Tokyo.
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Olympic fencing coach Anthony 'Buckie' Leach has died following a motorcycle accident, USA Fencing has announced.
The 62-year-old was on a road trip across the US having returned from the Tokyo Olympics and was involved in a crash. He died on Saturday August 14.
In the statement, USA Fencing said it was "heartbroken" at the loss of Leach who coached the women's foil team at five Olympics, first coaching at Atlanta in 1996. He went on to coach at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 Games.
Tokyo gold medalist Lee Kiefer, the first American to win gold in the Olympic foil, was a student of Leach.
Kiefer shared an emotional tribute to Leach on Tuesday, calling her long time coach a friend.
"It has been a fun time, Buckie, and of course you are too humble to acknowledge how big of a role you played in my success," she wrote on Instagram.
"Moving forward, I will continue to eat spicy chicken sandwiches and try to not take myself too seriously in your honor. Miss you already."
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Leach was credited with helping build the team's success in a career that spanned almost 30 years.
Following his fourth Olympic Games in 2016, Leach joined the coaching staff at Illinois college Notre Dame. His students won 12 individual medals at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Fencing Championships under his leadership.
Notre Dame head coach Gia Kvaratskhelia said he was "devastated" in a statement.
"I am devastated to learn of the tragic passing of my dear friend Buckie Leach, who was taken from us far too soon.
"Buckie's legacy at Notre Dame and within American fencing stretch far beyond the athletic accomplishments of the fencers and teams that he coached.
"Rather, his enduring memory will be of the incredible person that he was. His kindness, his passion, his sense of humor and the genuine way he brightened the lives of everyone who was fortunate enough to know him," Kvaratskhelia said.