Sue Badders fenced for the United States in team foil at the 1984 Olympics. Her best weapon was the épée but women did not compete in épée to any degree until the 1990s. The first US Championship for women in épée was held in 1989 and Badders won the title. She later helped Portland’s Salle Auriol Club win the 1990 US team foil fencing championship. Badders fenced for Cal State Fullerton, where she was a two-time All-American, and was the intercollegiate champion in 1973. She competed for the US at the 1975 and 1977-78 World Championships and the 1979 Universiade. Badders later became an English professor at Portland Community College in Oregon.