About Genai
Full name: Genai Gangel Kerr
Birthdate: 12/25/76
Hometown: Imperial Beach, CA
Education: University of California at Irvine, 2000
Degrees: Studio Arts, Educations
Height: 6′ 8″
Weight: 220 lbs
Club Team: Newport Water Polo Foundation
Interests: Painting, Photography, Cooking, Outdoor Sports
Occupation: Water Polo Camp Director -5meter Nike Water Polo Camps
CEO -Optimum Point
Influences: Dr. Omar Amr – US Olympian
Family: Mother Maile is an educator of life – Prior to being a master shipwright for the last 31 years Roy (Father) was a spear fisherman in Jamaica for 20 years – Sisters Iliasha and Tahlia were both Division I water polo goalies
Training Future Olympians
INTERNATIONAL/CLUB: An explosive net minder with great passing ability… Played goalie in a run to fourth place at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy…Split time in net during 2007 FINA World League Super Final… Recorded 24 saves during Gold Medal run at 2007 Pan American Games… Key member of Long Beach Shore Aquatics’ defense at 2006 Premier League series with 141 saves… Played in USA’s gold-medal win over Brazil at 2003 Pan American Games to secure the United States’ place in the Athens Olympics… Starting goalkeeper for Newport at 2003 American Water Polo League finals, helping team to a first-place finish… 57 saves in six games during FINA World League play in 2002, including season-high 12 against Russia… In the net for Newport’s championship run at the 2002 Men’s Senior Nationals… National Team debut at World Championship Qualification Tournament in March 2001.
COLLEGE: All-American in 1998 and 1999 at UC Irvine under Coach Ted Newland… Led MPSF in saves in 1998… Big West Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year his senior year.
HIGH SCHOOL: Starred in water polo and basketball at Coronado High School… Ran track at Chula Vista High School.
PERSONAL: Got involved in water polo by accident, following the whistles to what he thought was a basketball game and ended up at the pool… enjoys painting, photography, cooking and other sports… his artwork has been featured in several exhibitions… favorite foods are jerk chicken and Thai… Named one of the “Sexiest Men in Sports” by Sports Illustrated for Women in 2002…coached water polo at Sage Hill High School and Long Beach City College… Bachelors degrees in Studio Arts and Education.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS:
2010 Volvo Cup, Hungary, 3rd place
2009 FINA World Championships, Rome, Italy, 4th place
2009 FINA World League Super Final, Podgorica, Montenegro, 4th place
2007 FINA World League Super Finals, Berlin, Germany 5th place
2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1st place
2007 FINA World Championships, Melbourne, Australia, 9th place
2006 ASUA Cup, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1st place
2006 FINA World League Super Finals, Athens, Greece, 5th place
2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece, 7th place
2003 FINA World League Super Finals, New York, NY, 3rd place
2003 Pan American Games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 1st place
2003 FINA World Championships, Barcelona, Spain, 6th place
2003 U.S. Cup, Stanford, CA, United States, 2nd place
2002 FINA World Cup, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 7th place
2001 FINA World Championships, Fukuoka, Japan, 7th place
2001 World Championships Qualifier, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 1st place
1998 First Appearance on the Men’s National Team, Long Beach, CA
1995 Jr. North American Games 2nd place
Fun Facts:
Favorite Food: Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Favorite Movie: When We Were Kings
Favorite Actor: Denzel Washington
Favorite Actress: Angelina Jolie
Favorite Song: “Welcome to Jamrock” by Bob Marley
Personal Theme Song: “The Harder they Come” by Jimmy Cliff
Favorite Musical Artists: All the Marleys
Favorite Color: Gold
Best Present Ever Received: Framed Olympic Memorabilia
Best Halloween Costume: Jack in the Box
Special Power: To be Superman
Etcetera: Would be playing basketball if not for water polo… supports the boys and girls club… believes the best things about water polo are the bonds you make with friends during intense training and competition… keeps playing water polo because he dreams for a gold medal