Gerek Meinhardt on going for gold at Paris 2024

Gerek Meinhardt is eyeing Olympic gold in Paris. GETTY IMAGES

Fencing veteran Gerek Meinhardt has already revealed his goals for the upcoming Olympics in Paris this summer. The four-time Olympian and two-time medallist will form part of Team USA in the French capital.

US teammates Miles Chamley-Watson, Nick Itkin, and Alexander Massialas will join Meinhardt, bringing a collective 10 years of Olympic experience and a total of seven medals among them.

“As a team, we are set on going after that gold medal that’s eluded us the past few Games,” the 33-year-old, who won the individual silver at the Shanghai Grand Prix in May, told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview.

“We’re really excited. We’re going in hungry, and we’re going to do everything we can to prepare as a team and then put it all out there.” Approaching his fifth Olympics at the age of 33, the Californian ace suggested that there could be an added layer of motivation heading into Paris, considering it could potentially be his final Games.

Gerek Meinhardt is hoping to clinch Olympic gold next month as he takes centre stage for Team USA. GETTY IMAGES
Gerek Meinhardt is hoping to clinch Olympic gold next month as he takes centre stage for Team USA. GETTY IMAGES

“I’m definitely going in extremely excited and and if anything more motivated than I have been at my past games, because I do know I’m towards the end of my career and the opportunities are getting, you know, fewer and fewer. So I’m really excited to just put all the work in and go out there and compete with my team,” he added.

In fencing, two competitors, each wielding a weapon in one hand, confront each other with the aim of striking their opponent on a designated target area of the body. Rule sets vary depending on the specific type of weapon employed. Olympic fencing consists of 12 events, featuring three distinct weapon categories: foil, epee, and sabre. 

The men’s foil event commences three days following the Opening Ceremony on 29 July, with 4 August marking the decisive moment for Meinhardt and the rest of the United States’ men’s foil fencing squad.



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