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."[3][4]
He was introduced to fencing as a youth when he attended the Oakwood School in North Hollywood, California, which offered fencing as a sport.[3][1] In 1985, he became the youngest senior US Championship men's épée finalist until that time.[1] He graduated from high school in 1985.[5]
He enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, graduating in 1989 with a degree in urban studies.[6][5] There, he was a member of St. Anthony Hall and the Penn Quakers fencing team.
While attending the University of Pennsylvania he was the Junior US National Championship, serving on the Junior National Team in 1986 and 1987.[1][4] O'Loughlin won a silver individual medal and a bronze team medal in épée at the 1989 Maccabiah Games.[4] He was a member of the World University Games team in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1995.[4]
He served on the Senior World Championship Team in 1990, 1991, and 1995.[4] He won a bronze medal with the United States épée team at the 1991 Pan American Games.[6]
O'Loughlin competed on behalf of the United States in the individual épée event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and was the first alternate for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[2][4] In 2000, O'Loughlin won the U.S. National Championship in individual épée.[1]
In 2012, he began competing at the Veteran level.[4] That year, he won the silver medal in the North American Cup–Veteran Level, also winning the silver medal in 2016.[4] At the April 2017 North American Cup, he won the gold medal in the Veteran 50 to 59 category and won a silver medal in the Veteran Open category.[4] In 2018, he placed ninth in the USA Fencing National Championships, veteran age 50 to 59 category.[3] That same year, he helped team USA win a gold medal at the 2018 Veteran World Championships in Livorno, Italy.[7][4] O'Loughlin said, “I’ve been fencing for a really long time,” O’Loughlin says. “I’ve won a lot of national tournaments and done well internationally. But I never had the luck or good fortune to stand on the podium while they play the national anthem and raise the American flag. I honestly did not think it would affect me. But I was touched. I was really, really touched.”[7] He also places seventh overall at the Veteran World Championships.[4] His coaches are Alex Abend & Jim Carpenter.[4]
He is a member of the New York Athletic Club team, becoming national champions six times.[6] He was chairman of the NYAC fencing.[2] He was also the United States athlete representative to the Fencing Association.[2]
Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 2019.[14]
NCAA All-American in1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989.[4]
Professional and personal life
In 1990, O'Loughlin worked with NYNEX, later Verizon, as part of the U.S.O.C. Olympic Job Opportunity Program.[1] Since then, he has held several executive positions in the telecommunications infrastructure and software industry.[1] He is currently a Partner at IBM.
O’Loughlin married Colleen Clinton.[6] The couple originally lived in New York City, but now lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.[6][7][4] They have one son.[7]
