Gerek Meinhardt 2016-17 Fencing Staff

Meinhardt made the U.S. Olympic team for a third time in 2016, having also competed in 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London). As a 17-year old, he made history in 2008 as the youngest U.S. Olympic fencer of all time. In January of 2014, he became the first active collegiate fencer to ever reach No. 1 in the world rankings. 

Meinhardt headed to Rio ranked No. 2 among U.S. fencers (men’s foil) and No. 3 in the world. In 2010, he became the first U.S. male to win a Senior World Championship medal (bronze) and then became the first U.S. male to win multiple individual Senior World Championship medals when he picked up the team silver in 2013 and another individual bronze in 2015. In 2007, he became the first U.S. men’s fencer ever to qualify for the Cadet, Junior and Senior World Teams all in the same year. 

At Notre Dame, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in 2013 and added a MBA in 2015, Meinhardt was a four-time All-American (2009-10, 2013-14), just the second four-time First Team All-American in men’s program history. After finishing as the runner-up at the 2009 NCAA Championship, he captured the 2010 and 2014 NCAA Championships. He also placed third in 2013. During his regular-season career at Notre Dame, he went an impressive 103-9. 

Twitter: @GerekMeinhardt 
Read: Gerek Meinhardt: A Transformative Athlete For The Ages 

COLLEGIATE HONORS & AWARDS

• 2010, 2014 NCAA Foil Champion (2010, 2014)
• 2013 NCAA Foil t-3rd place finisher (2013)
• 2009 NCAA Foil Runner-Up (2009)
• First-Team All-American (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014)
• 2010, 2013, 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional Foil Champion
• 2010 Midwest Fencing Conference Champion
• 2010 First Team All-MFC
• 2010, 2013, 2014 Notre Dame Monogram Club MVP
• 2009, 2013, 2014 Most Valuable Foilist
• 2014 ACC Academic Honor Roll
• 2014 Byron V. Kanaley Award
• 2010 Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Award
• 2013, 2014 Walter M. Langford Memorial Award
• 2013, 2014 Captain

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• 2016 Olympic Men’s Team Foil Bronze Medalist 
• 2012 Olympic Men’s Team Foil Fourth-Place Finisher
• 2008, 2012, 2016 Olympic Games Participant (United States)
• 2010, 2015 Senior World Championship Individual Bronze Medalist 
• 2013 Senior World Championship Team Silver Medalist 
• 2015 Pan American Games Team Gold Medalist 
• 2015 Pan American Games Individual Silver Medalist 
• 2008-15 Pan American Championship Team Gold Medalist
• 2015, 2012, 2011 Pan American Championship Individual Bronze Medalist
• 2014, 2013, 2007 Pan American Championship Individual Gold Medalist
• 2013 La Coruna World Cup Individual Bronze Medalist
• 2013 Venice Grand Prix Individual Silver Medalist 
• 2013 Tokyo Grand Prix Individual Silver Medalist 
• 2012 USA Fencing National Championship Individual Gold Medalist
• 2008-09 Pan American Championship Individual Silver Medalist
• 2006-07 Pan American Championship Team Silver Medalist 
• 2010, 2008 Junior World Championship Team Gold Medalist
• 2010 Junior World Championship Individual Silver Medalist
• 2009 Junior World Championship Team Silver Medalist
• 2009 Junior World Championship Individual Bronze Medalist
• 2007 Madrid Junior World Cup Individual Gold Medalist
• 2007 N.A.C. Senior Nationals Individual Gold Medalist
• 2007 US Fencing National Championships Individual Gold Medalist
• 2007 Burgsteinfurt Junior World Cup Individual Silver Medalist
• 2007 Bratislava Junior World Cup Individual Silver Medalist
• 2006 Junior Pan America Zonal Championships Individual Gold Medalist
• 2006 US Fencing Junior Nationals Individual Gold Medalist
• 2006 N.A.C. Junior Nationals Individual Gold Medalist
• 2006 Madrid Junior Championship Individual Bronze Medalist

Notes: 

• Became first U.S. man to win a Senior World Championship medal in 2010 (bronze)
• 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 Championship 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)
• Youngest male member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in any sport
• Youngest athlete ever to compete on a U.S. Olympic Fencing Team

AS A GRADUATE STUDENT: Claimed his second NCAA men’s foil title, becoming the 11th four-year All-American in program history, and just the second four-time First Team All-American on the men’s side (also Charles Higgs Coulthard (1984-87, foil) … also claimed the NCAA Midwest Regional Foil Championship … posted a 24-3 record in dual events, finishing his career with a 103-9 (.920) record … defeated Penn State’s Nobuo Bravo 15-11 in the NCAA semifinal bout before ousting Nittany Lion David Willette 15-12 in the championship … named the men’s team’s Most Valuable Foilist and the Notre Dame Monogram Club MVP … also given the team’s Walter Langford Memorial Award, recognizing sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork … named the Byron V. Kanaley Award winner, given to senior monogram athletes who have been exemplary as students and leaders … captain … earned a monogram. 

AS A SENIOR: Finished tied for third at the 2013 NCAA Championships, earning first-team All-America accolades for the third time in his career … competed primarily in international competitions, appearing in only one meet during the regular season for the Irish at the Northwestern Duals … posted the best individual record of the day, going 17-1 in Evanston … squared off against friend and Olympic teammate Alex Massialas in semifinal bout at NCAA Championships in San Antonio … in the first period, went up 6-3 on the Cardinal combatant, before increasing the lead to 12-6 … Massialas returned fire, scoring seven consecutive touches to advance, 13-12 … Meinhardt scored two touches, bringing the score to 14-13, but could not completely finish as Massialas won the bout, 15-14 … finished tied for third with another Olympic teammate, Miles Chamley-Watson … named the Notre Dame Monogram Club MVP and the team’s Most Valuable Foilist … 2013 Walter Langford Memorial Award winner for sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork … captain … earned a monogram. 

2012 NCAA SEASON: Did not compete due to Olympic training. 

2011 NCAA SEASON: Did not compete due to injury. 

AS A SOPHOMORE: Completed his sophomore campaign with an impressive record of 31-3 and championship titles in the foil at both the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships and the NCAA Championships … crowned Midwest Fencing Conference Champion in foil after downing Case Western’s Phil Ropelewski (round of 64), Purdue’s Pavel Prusakov (round of 32), Iowa’s Luke Voelz (round of 16), Notre Dame’s Zach Schirtz (quarterfinals), Ohio State’s Colin Sutter (semifinals) and Notre Dame’s Enzo Castellani in the finals … won the NCAA Midwest Regionals, downing Detroit’s Michael Purdy (15-0), Ohio State’s Colin Sutter (15-12) and Notre Dame’s Enzo Castellani (15-10) … defeated Penn State foilists Miles Chamley-Watson (15-11) and David Willette (15-9) to take the crown at the NCAA Championships … dubbed Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Award winner and Monogram Club MVP … earned a monogram. 

AS A FRESHMAN: Placed second at the NCAA Championships to earn first-team All-American honors … went 31-2 during the regular season … began his college career at the Northwestern Duals, finishing 16-2 … earned his first career win against Johns Hopkins’ James Einseidler (5-0) … placed fifth at the NCAA Midwest Regionals … after dropping his first final-eight bout in the regional to teammate Enzo Castellani, 15-13, won two straight to finish fifth … out-touched his final two opponents by a 30-3 margin, including a 15-3 win over Ohio State’s Ben Parkins in the fifth-place bout … went 19-3 in pool play at the NCAA Championship to advance to the men’s foil semifinals … in the semifinal, came back from an early 7-5 deficit against Columbia’s Kurt Getz to win 15-9 … met Penn State’s Nicholas Chinman in the gold medal bout … led Chinman 11-7 at the first break before falling in a closely contested bout, 15-14. 

PREP & PERSONAL: Graduated from Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, Calif., and UMOHS Online Distance Learning in 2008 … ranked 11th in the world senior rankings and fifth in the world junior rankings … became the youngest men’s foil national champion in U.S. fencing history after outdueling Kurt Getz at the 2007 Summer Nationals … also was the first male fencer (in any of the three disciplines: foil, epee, sabre) to earn a roster spot on the U.S. senior, junior (U-20) and cadet (U-17) national teams during the same season (06-07) … trained at the Massialas Foundation under the direction of Greg Massialas (the 1980, U.S. National Champion) … son of Kurt and Jane Meinhardt … has one sister, Katie, who played basketball at Boston University … graduated from the Mendoza College of Business in May 2013 with a degree in information technology management and with an MBA in 2015.