[1] Currently Gerard is ranked #1 in the United States and #13 world-wide.

Born and raised in Los Angeles Gerard was always active in sports and was first introduced to fencing by acting as a sparring partner for his brother.

Then in 1981 Gerrard was shot in the chest during a robbery in his home.

He spent the next 6 months in hospital and was paralyzed from his waist down.

In 1996 he began his return to fencing competing in sabre and foil and has since competed on four World Championship Teams and 4 Paralympic Teams (Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London).