Two-time Olympic gold medalist fencer Mariel Zagunis will be the special guest athlete of the 24th annual Big Sky State Games. Zagunis will light the torch and address the audience during Opening Ceremonies, Friday, July 17, at Daylis Stadium.

Zagunis won her second gold medal at last summer's Olympics in Beijing in the individual sabre. She also helped lead the U.S. women's fencing team to a bronze medal in the team sabre event. In 2004 at the Athens Games, Zagunis became the first U.S. fencer to win an Olympic gold medal in 100 years as well as the first U.S. gold medalist for women's sabre.

For two seasons, Zagunis fenced at the varsity level while attending the University of Notre Dame. She went on to win the NCAA championship in 2006 and was a member of the NCAA championship team in 2005.

In 2000 Zagunis became the youngest fencer to win gold at a World Championship while she was only 15. She also is a two-time junior world champion, three-time junior team world champion, two-time senior team world champion and she holds the record for the most medals won at the Junior and Cadet World Championship (10). In 2002 she won Secret/U.S. Women's Sports Foundation Oregon Athlete of the Year and in April 2001 she was the USOC Female Athlete of the Month. Zagunis also appeared in Sports Illustrated in the May 7, 2001 issue.

Zagunis' parents Robert and Cathy Zagunis were both members of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team for rowing and both competed in the 1976 Olympics in Quebec.

Gates for the Opening Ceremonies of the Big Sky State Games open Friday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. The Parade of Athletes begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, children under 6 are admitted free. State Games participants are admitted free with their Opening Ceremonies tickets. Fitness Walk participants and 5K runners need to check in at the sport tents located in the southeast corner of Pioneer Park for admission credentials.

For more information go online to www.bigskygames.org or call 254-7426.