[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 125 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF GEREK MEINHARDT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ANDY BARR

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 16, 2021

  Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor a special Kentuckian 
and a member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team, Gerek Meinhardt, from 
Lexington, Kentucky.
  Mr. Meinhardt began the sport of fencing when he was 9 years old. In 
2007, he qualified for the cadet, junior, and senior world teams all in 
the same year, becoming the first U.S. men's fencer ever to do so. In 
2008, he was the youngest athlete ever to compete on a U.S. Fencing 
Team and was the youngest member of the 2008 Olympic Team in any sport. 
Mr. Meinhardt was a four-time NCAA All-American and was a two-time 
individual NCAA Champion in 2011 and 2014. Mr. Meinhardt was a member 
of the first U.S. Men's Foil Team to win a Senior World Championship 
title in 2019. He competed in the Pan-American Games in 2011, earning a 
gold team medal, and in 2015, earning another gold team medal and 
silver individual medal.
  Representing the United States of America, Mr. Meinhardt competed in 
the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the London Olympic Games in 2012, 
the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, and is currently on the team that will 
compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games. He earned a bronze medal in 2016.
  Mr. Meinhardt is the son of Kurt and Jane Meinhardt. His wife is also 
a member of Team USA, fellow fencer Lee Kiefer. He is a graduate of the 
University of Notre Dame and is currently a student at the University 
of Kentucky College of Medicine.
  I wish all the best to this accomplished Kentucky athlete as he 
competes in Tokyo representing the United States. It is my honor to 
recognize Gerek Meinhardt before the United States Congress.

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