Gerek Lin Meinhardt born July 27, 1990 is an accomplished American foil fencer known for his impressive career and his connection to two-time Olympic champion Lee Kiefer.
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Early Life and Education
Meinhardt, the son of Kurt and Jane Meinhardt, attended Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco before completing his education through homeschooling.
He earned a full fencing scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in business and finance and competed as a member of the school’s fencing team from 2009 to 2014.
Before starting medical school at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 2020, Meinhardt worked at Deloitte Advisory. He married fellow fencer Lee Kiefer in September 2019.
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Fencing Career
Meinhardt began fencing at age 9 through a program run by Olympic fencer Greg Massialas. By 16, he had become the youngest men’s national foil champion in U.S. history.
He continued to excel in the sport, winning the NCAA Fencing National Championships in 2014 and joining a prestigious group of Notre Dame athletes.
In his Olympic career, Meinhardt competed in four Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, and Tokyo 2020.
He won bronze medals in the team foil events in both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. He was the youngest U.S. Olympic fencer at the 2008 Games and earned a bronze medal at the 2010 World Fencing Championships in Paris.
Meinhardt is also a member of the FIE Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Gerek Meinhardt is known not only for his achievements on the piste but also for his marriage to Lee Kiefer, a fellow fencer and Olympic gold medalist.
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