Peter Westbrook, first Black American fencer to win Olympic medal, passed at 72

Peter Westbrook, first Black American fencer to win Olympic medal, passed at 72

Peter Westbrook, the first Black American fencer to win an Olympic medal and who later developed multiple Olympians while coaching underserved youth in New York, died Friday, according to his foundation.
He was 72.

"It is with profound grief that we announce the death of the Founder and CEO of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Peter Westbrook," stated the post signed by Robert Cottingham, the Chair of Board at the Peter Westbrook Foundation. "While surrounded by family, Peter passed peacefully due to complications after a long and valiant battle with cancer."

The son of a Black American father and Japanese mother, Westbrook was born in Kansas City on April 16,1952. He was raised by his mother, Mariko Wada-Westbrook.
Correction/clarification: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the number of Olympic athletes coached by Peter Westbrook. He helped develop 16 Olympians.
Peter Westbrook, the first Black American fencer to win an Olympic medal and who later developed multiple Olympians while coaching underserved youth in New York, died Friday, according to his foundation.
He was 72.

The cause of death was cancer, according to an Instagram post from the Peter Westbrook Foundation
"It is with profound grief that we announce the death of the Founder and CEO of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Peter Westbrook," stated the post signed by Robert Cottingham, the Chair of Board at the Peter Westbrook Foundation. "While surrounded by family, Peter passed peacefully due to complications after a long and valiant battle with cancer."