'Star Wars' Led Harvard Grad From Bergen County Into Olympics

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Among the New Jersey athletes heading to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris — which start this Friday — is a Harvard graduate from Ridgewood who's preparing to wield the saber.

Fencer Mitchell Saron, 23, is competing in men's saber.

According to his biography, Saron, who was born in Ridgewood, became interested in the sport because "I watched Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith." He added, "I love being able to live my childhood dream of being a real life Jedi."

Saron isn't only about athletics — he got a "near perfect" score in the SAT subject test, he says.

He also enjoys, "Music, playing piano and guitar, video games and skiing with his friends," according to his bio.

He was a member of Harvard's men's fencing team for all four years, through the end of the 2022-23 school year.

He's not alone in having a unique origin story about his inspiration. Oradell native Hezly Rivera, who's competing in gymnastics, says a friend's birthday party gave her her start.

Other New Jerseyans heading to the games include Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of Dunellen — who set a new world record of 50.65 seconds in the women’s 400-meter hurdles during the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials — and Fairleigh Dickinson University jumper Salif Mane, who achieved his personal best of 17.52 meters to earn his spot on Team USA.

The 2024 Olympics will begin this Friday, July 26.

Read more about Saron here.