He was one of the pioneers of interval training and coached several world-record holders such as Rudolf Harbig, Gordon Pirie and Roger Moens.
He obtained his Abitur in Meißen, and then studied German, History and Sport at Leipzig University under Hermann Altrock among others.
After the Second World War, Gerschler also worked as a football manager for FC St. Pauli in 1947/48, and Eintracht Braunschweig in 1948/49.
In Braunschweig, Gerschler also coached the athletes of the club[2] who, especially in walking, were among the best in Germany in the late 1940s and early 1950s and won many German titles.
[8] Interval training as practised in Freiburg was essentially physiologically oriented, being based on heart rates.