Chris O'Loughlin (fencer)


Christopher S. O'Loughlin is an American Olympic épée fencer.

Early and personal life

O'Loughlin was born in Los Angeles, California, grew up in Van Nuys, California, and is Jewish. His father was actor Gerald S. O'Loughlin, known for his role as Lt. Ed Ryker on the 1970s ABC television drama police procedural series The Rookies, and his mother Meryl Abeles O'Loughlin, who was also Jewish, was Vice President of casting for Columbia Television. He lives in New York City.
While he initially had an interest in pursuing acting, O'Loughlin noted: "One of the things that I really like about fencing is that you get out of it what you put into it. That's not true with acting."
O'Loughlin earned a masters degree from Columbia University, and has held a number of executive positions in the telecommunications infrastructure and software industry.

Fencing career

O'Laughlin is a member of the New York Athletic Club. He was introduced to fencing as a youth when he attended the Oakwood School in North Hollywood, California, which offered fencing as a sport. In 1985, he became the youngest senior US Championship men's épée finalist until that time.
At the University of Pennsylvania, fencing for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers, O'Loughlin won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship in épée in 1986 as a freshman, and was a four-time All-American and All-Ivy League from 1986-89. He also won the Intercollegiate Fencing Association Eastern Championship in 1986. In 1986 he received Penn's Peter K. Riley Award, as the outstanding freshman athlete. He was captain of Penn's fencing team in his junior and senior seasons. While attending the University of Pennsylvania he won the Junior US National Championship.
O'Loughlin won a silver medal in épée at the 1989 Maccabiah Games. He won a bronze medal with the United States épée team at the 1991 Pan American Games.
O'Loughlin competed on behalf of the United States in the individual épée event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, and was first alternate for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
In 2000, O'Loughlin won the U.S. National Championship in individual épée. He was inducted into the University of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. In 2019 he was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.