Who is Lee Kiefer’s husband? Everything you need to know about Gerek Meinhardt, the two-time fencing Olympic medalist competing at the Paris Olympics

By Riddhi Acharya

Modified Jul 28, 2024 19:56 GMT

Lee Kiefer's is married to fellow fenced Gerek Meinhardt, and the couple have been scripting history together since the days of their collegiate careers. At the moment, the two are in action at the Paris Olympics, marking a fourth appearance at the Games for Kiefer, and a fifth for Meinhardt.

As Kiefer continues to excel in the women's foil category, here's everything you need to know about her husband and practice partner who’ll be cheering her on from the sidelines.

Gerek Meinhardt’s family and hometown

Meinhardt was born to parents Kurt and Jane on July 27, 1990 . He has an older sister named Katie Meinhardt who used to play basketball, and she is the one the fencer credits as his role model. He grew up in San Francisco, California.

Gerek Meinhardt's education

As a young kid, Meinhardt completed his early education at the Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. He then went on to study at the University of Notre Dame on a scholarship, majoring in information technology management.

While in Notre Dame, he competed for the University’s fencing team, winning two individual NCAA championships and leading his team to 12 team Pan American championships.

Gerek Meinhardt's coach

Meinhardt is coached by former fencer Greg Massialas as part of the national team. As an athlete, Massialas made Olympic teams, including the 1980, 1984, and 1988 Games. The 68-year-old had led the US National Team since 2012, and has coached many great fencers including 2013 World Fencing Champion Miles Chamley-Watson and three-time Olympic medalist and his son Alexander Massialas.

Gerek Meinhardt and Lee Kiefer's relationship

Meinhardt and Lee Kiefer started dating during the 2012 Olympic Games, and got married seven years later. The two credit their marriage as their secret weapon, with Kiefer telling Town & Country Magazine:

"We can help push each other through all the ups and downs.”

Outside of fencing, Meinhardt and Kiefer study medicine together at the University of Kentucky.

Gerek Meinhardt’s career as a fencer

Meinhardt began his career as a prodigy, marking himself out as a threat when he was just 16 and won the 2007 U.S. Fencing Nationals, becoming the youngest American to achieve this feat. Three years later, he claimed his first major international medal, at the 2010 World Championships. He has since gone on to win six more World Championships medals, including a team gold in 2019.

The America won his first Olympic medal, a team bronze in Rio 2016. He repeated this performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The American will now hope to follow up on that at the Paris Olympics.