Albertson Van Zo Post
America's most decorated Olympic fencer, a writer and athlete who dominated the 1904 Games with a five-medal haul.
1866–1938 (age 72)·American fencer·Birthday: July 28·The Gilded Age
Biography
In the early 20th century, when fencing was still finding its footing in the United States, Albertson Van Zo Post emerged as its first true Olympic star. A multifaceted figure—also a writer and inventor—he channeled his precision and intellect into the sport. His moment arrived at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics, which featured an unusual slate of fencing events. Post proved masterful, competing in multiple weapon disciplines and styles. When the dust settled, he stood atop the podium twice for gold, added a silver, and collected two bronzes—a staggering total of five medals that remains the highest Olympic medal count for any American fencer. He returned to compete in the 1912 Stockholm Games, but his legacy was already forged in that single, dominant performance in Missouri.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Albertson was born in 1866, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Albertson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1866
Albertson's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1866Born
President: Andrew Johnson
1871Started school
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1879Became a teenager
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1882Could drive
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1884Could vote
President: Chester A. Arthur
1887Turned 21
President: Grover Cleveland
1896Turned 30
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1906Turned 40
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Turned 50
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Turned 60
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1936Turned 70
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Died at 72
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
Key Achievements
- Won five medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze) in fencing at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis.
- His five-medal performance is the most by any American fencer in Olympic history.
- Also competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.
Did You Know?
He was also a published writer, authoring works on fencing and other subjects.
The 1904 Olympics featured non-standard events like the 'singlestick' and 'team sticks,' which contributed to his high medal count.
He held patents for several inventions, including a type of fencing mask.
“The foil is an extension of the mind, a tool for solving a physical problem.”
