 This one-hour special recounts the inspirational story of Peter Westbrook, a man of African and Japanese descent that was born with next to nothing but refused to let that get in the way of his dreams.
Peter grew up in the ghettos of Newark, New Jersey. His Japanese mother, determined to distract her young son from the crime and drugs that permeated their neighborhood, encouraged him to focus on sports, and one sport in particular: fencing. Peter, who was fascinated by Zorro, took to the sword and the rest is history. He’s been to the Olympics six times and won bronze in the individual saber at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.  Age hasn’t stopped his spirit or his talent. He was 44 years old when he competed at the ‘96 Olympics in Atlanta. Sadly, his mother couldn’t be there to cheer him on. She was murdered shortly before the competition ... beaten to death on a Newark bus. After the ‘96 Olympics, Peter’s life changed gears. He retired from competition, and is now devoting all his energy to a foundation he began nearly ten years ago. It’s a non-profit program designed to change the lives of
inner-city youth, through fencing.  Peter introduces us to a 11-year-old boy from Harlem who could possibly take his talent all the way to the Olympic Games. Akhi Spencer-El was headed down the wrong road, involved with petty crime and failing in school. However, just months after taking up fencing, Akhi’s life takes another turn. This time, heading toward a rewarding future.
We also follow another Foundation student, 11-year old Kamara James. She travels to her first fencing bout, an international competition in Montreal, and a world away from her crime-ridden Queens’s neighborhood. We watch Kamara experience the thrill of victory and the disappointment of defeat.
Peter Westbrook has not only transformed his own life through fencing, but he’s also having a lasting impact on the future of these youth. | 
