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Karch KiralyAmerican volleyball player
Date of Birth: 03.11.1960
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Karch Kiraly: A Legendary Volleyball Star
- Collegiate Success at UCLA
- Academic Achievements
- International and Olympic Success
- Transition to Beach Volleyball
- Continued Success on the Beach
- Retirement from Beach Volleyball and Broadcasting Career
- Legacy and Honors
Karch Kiraly: A Legendary Volleyball Star
Early Life and High School CareerKarch Kiraly, the only person to win Olympic gold medals in both indoor and beach volleyball, was born in Santa Barbara, California. His passion for the sport was ignited by his father, Laszlo, who encouraged him to play from a young age.
Kiraly's high school team, the Santa Barbara High School Dons, won the championship title in 1978, defeating Laguna Beach High School and tying with San Clemente High School.
Collegiate Success at UCLA
From 1979 to 1982, Kiraly played for the UCLA Bruins volleyball team, where he was an All-America selection for all four years. Under coach Al Scates at Pauley Pavilion, he led the University of California to three NCAA men's volleyball championships (1979, 1981, 1982). During his four-year tenure, the team won 129 matches and lost only five. Kiraly was named Most Valuable Player in 1981 and 1982. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
Academic Achievements
Despite his athletic prowess, Kiraly also excelled academically. He graduated in June 1983 with a degree in biochemistry and a 3.34 GPA.
International and Olympic Success
Nicknamed "the Volleyball Thunderbolt," Kiraly quickly became a member of the U.S. national team and was one of the top setters and middle hitters in the 1980s, part of a series of high-performance teams developed by Doug Beal. The U.S. team, including Kiraly, won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. In 1988, Kiraly served as team captain. He was named the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Player of the Year in 1986 and 1988.
Transition to Beach Volleyball
After the 1988 Olympics, Kiraly retired from the national team and played professionally in Italy. Upon returning to the United States, he found a new passion in beach volleyball. Kiraly has won 148 volleyball titles and partnered with Kent Steffes to win the first Olympic men's beach volleyball tournament in 1996.
Continued Success on the Beach
Despite being in his late 40s, Kiraly continues to compete against much younger opponents. He won two AVP tournaments with Brent Dobbin in 2002 and 2003, and added four more wins with Mike Lambert in 2004 and 2005. In August 2005, Lambert and Kiraly won the tournament in Huntington Beach, California. Kiraly teamed up with Larry Witt in 2006 and Kevin Wong in 2007. In total, Kiraly has won over $3 million in beach volleyball prize money, a record at the time.
Retirement from Beach Volleyball and Broadcasting Career
Kiraly retired from professional beach volleyball in 2007. He briefly returned as a sideline reporter for NBC during the 2008 Summer Olympics. He currently resides in San Clemente, California with his wife, Janna, and two sons, Christian and Cory.
Legacy and Honors
"Karch," as he is nicknamed, is derived from the Hungarian variation of the name "Charlie." Kiraly's father played on Hungary's national volleyball team, and his surname translates to "king" in Hungarian. He currently coaches the boys volleyball team at Saint Margaret's Episcopal School in California.
Kiraly was inducted into the National Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2009. He continues to inspire and motivate young volleyball players with his unparalleled skill and dedication to the sport.
