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Gerek Meinhardt

HOMETOWN: 
San Francisco, Calif. 

BIRTH DATE: 
July 27, 1990

OLYMPIC TEAMS: 
2020
2016
2012
2008

Event: Foil
Birthplace: San Francisco, Calif.
Current Residence: Lexington, Ky.
College: Student at the University of Kentucky Medical School, MBA from the University of Notre Dame (2015), Bachelor's degree from Notre Dame in information technology management (2013)
High School: Graduate of Lick-Wilmerding High School (2008)
Club: Massialas Foundation (M Team) and Bluegrass Fencers' Club
Coach: Greg Massialas
Family: Parents: Kurt and Jane Meinhardt. Sister: Katie Meinhardt
Role Model: Older sister Katie Meinhardt whom he grew up watching play basketball in gyms around the country and admires for her work ethic

Fencing origin story: "Parents signed me up with family friend Greg Massialas. I fell in love with the sport from the start."

Why I love fencing: "There are always things to learn and improve upon. There is not one ideal body shape or size."

Advice: "Have fun at practice and try new actions. There are times to practice winning and times to expand your skillset. Keep working hard and believing, because there will be ups, downs, and plateaus throughout your fencing career."

 

Olympic Teams: 2020 (Bronze - Team), 2016 (Bronze - Team), 2012, 2008

Senior World Championship Teams: 2023, 2022 (Silver - Team), 2019 (Gold - Team), 2018 (Silver - Team), 2017 (Silver - Team), 2015 (Bronze - Individual), 2014, 2013 (Silver - Team), 2011, 2010 (Bronze - Individual), 2009, 2008, 2007

Personal: Meinhardt began fencing at the age and was competing on the national level within a year as he quickly moved through the junior and senior ranks where he won gold in both the Division I and U20 events at the USA Fencing National Championships in 2007. Meinhardt became the first U.S. men's fencer ever to qualify for the Cadet, Junior and Senior World Teams all in the same year (2007) and went on to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team as the youngest athlete ever to compete on a U.S. Olympic Fencing Team.

In 2010, Meinhardt became the first U.S. men's fencer ever to win a medal at the Senior World Championships where he brought home a bronze. Meinhardt returned to the podium in 2015, winning a second bronze and becoming the only U.S. man to reach the podium twice in the individual event. 

A 14-time individual medalist at Grand Prix and World Cup events, Meinhardt became the first U.S. men's foil fencer to earn a No. 1 world ranking in 2014. 

After winning bronze with Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games, Meinhardt and his teammates won silver medals at the 2017 and 2018 Senior World Championships before earning Team USA's first-ever Senior World title in the men's team foil event in 2019. 

In September of 2019, Meinhardt married Lee Kiefer, his teammate at Notre Dame and on the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Teams in what was dubbed the "Royal Fencing Wedding." 

During the COVID-19 shutdown of competition, Meinhardt began his medical school career at the University of Kentucky. 

Notable results:

  • First U.S. man to win a Senior World Championship medal (Bronze in 2010)
  • First U.S. man to win two individual Senior World Championship medals (Bronze in 2010 and 2015)
  • First U.S. man to win three Senior World medals (Team silver in 2013 and individual bronzes in 2010 and 2015)
  • Member of first U.S. Men's Foil Team to win a Senior World Championship medal (Silver in 2013)
  • Member of first U.S. Men's Foil Team to win a Senior World Championship (2019)
  • Four-time NCAA All-American (2014, 2013, 2010, 2009)
  • 2010 Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Award winner
  • Youngest male member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in any sport
  • Youngest male athlete ever to compete on a U.S. Olympic Fencing Team