Lee Kiefer is an American foil fencer. She was born on January 21, 1994, in Lexington, Kentucky. Lee stands at 5'4" and has been a prominent figure in the sport since she began fencing at the age of five. A four-time Olympian, she has competed in London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020, and is set to compete in Paris 2024.
Her Olympic career has been distinguished by two gold medals in individual foil, secured at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games. Lee's fencing prowess extends beyond the Olympics; she has achieved significant success in World Championships, earning a total of 11 medals, including 2 golds, 4 silvers, and 5 bronzes.
Lee Kiefer Family Origin
Lee Kiefer's family is of American origin. She was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and her family has deep roots in the United States. Lee's parents are both involved in the medical field: her father, Dr. Michael Kiefer, is a cardiologist, and her mother, Dr. Jane Kiefer, is a physician. The Kiefer family has a strong connection to the sport of fencing, with Lee, her sister Alexandra, and her brother Axel all having achieved notable success in the sport.
Lee Kiefer’s Parents
Lee Kiefer's parents are Teresa and Steve Kiefer. Teresa is a psychiatrist who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines as a child. Steve is a neurosurgeon and a former captain of the Duke University fencing team.
Lee Kiefer’s Siblings
Lee Kiefer has two siblings who are also accomplished fencers. Her older sister, Alex Kiefer, clinched the individual NCAA Championships for Harvard in 2011. Meanwhile, her younger brother, Axel Kiefer, has represented the U.S. on two Junior and two Cadet World Teams. He continued his fencing career at Notre Dame, where he and Lee were integral members of the team that won the 2017 NCAA Championships.
Who is Lee Kiefer’s brother?
Lee Kiefer’s brother is Axel Kiefer. Axel Kiefer is an American fencer who specializes in foil. Born on June 15, 1994, in Lexington, Kentucky, he currently resides in Notre Dame, Indiana, where he was a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame. Axel fenced for the Bluegrass Fencers' Club and is coached by Amgad Khazbak.
His accomplishments include competing on the Junior World Championship Teams in 2015 and 2016 and the Cadet World Championship Teams in 2012 and 2013. Axel Kiefer has earned a current U.S. ranking of No. 11 and a world ranking of No. 235. His sister, Lee Kiefer, is also a prominent fencer and a two-time Olympian.
Who is Lee Kiefer’s sister?
Lee Kiefer’s sister is Alex Kiefer. She won the individual NCAA Championships for Harvard in 2011. She is an OB/GYN at Stony Brook University Hospital and completed her residency at Stony Brook Medicine. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University, where she was also the captain of the varsity fencing team.
Lee Kiefer’s Husband
Lee Kiefer is married to Gerek Meinhardt. They met in 2012 and have been fencing together ever since. They both compete for Team USA and are set to compete in their fourth, and possibly final, Olympic Games together in Paris 2024.
Gerek Meinhardt is an Olympic fencer from San Francisco, California, standing 6 feet tall and currently 34 years old. He is a five-time Olympian, having competed in the Games held in Beijing (2008), London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016), and Tokyo (2020), and is set to participate in Paris (2024). Throughout his Olympic career, Meinhardt has achieved notable success, including two bronze medals in Team Foil events (2016 and 2020) and multiple high placements in individual events.
A graduate of the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine, Meinhardt has balanced his athletic career with his academic pursuits. He began fencing at the age of nine, inspired by taking piano lessons from the wife of renowned fencing coach Greg Massialas. This early start led to a remarkable career, including being the first U.S. men's foil fencer to earn the World No. 1 ranking in 2014. Meinhardt is also a two-time individual NCAA Champion (2011, 2014) and a four-time NCAA All-American.
In addition to his Olympic achievements, Meinhardt has earned significant accolades at the World Championships, securing a gold medal in Team Foil in 2019, as well as multiple silver and bronze medals in both team and individual events. He began medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the son of Kurt and Jane Meinhardt and has one older sister, Katie. Outside of fencing, he enjoys reading, sports, and traveling.
Lee Kiefer Family Pictures
Lee Kiefer family FAQs
A. Lee Kiefer stands at 5'4" (163 cm).
A. Lee Kiefer hails from Lexington, Kentucky
A. Lee Kiefer attended the University of Kentucky, where she pursued her studies alongside her fencing career.
A. Lee Kiefer has competed in four Olympic Games: London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024.
A. Lee Kiefer has won two Olympic gold medals in foil fencing (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and has achieved significant success in the World Championships, including multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals.
