Karch Kiraly
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| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Volleyball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Los Angeles 1984 | Volleyball (indoor) | |
| Gold | Seoul 1988 | Volleyball (indoor) | |
| Gold | Atlanta 1996 | Beach Volleyball | |
Charles Frederick Kiraly, better known as Karch Kiraly (born November 3, 1960 in Jackson, Michigan), is an American volleyball player who is the only person to have won Olympic gold medals in both the indoor and beach versions of the sport.
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[edit] Early years
He is of Hungarian descent; his father László fled Hungary in the wake of the failed 1956 Hungarian Revolution and emigrated to the United States. The Kiraly family eventually settled in Santa Barbara, California, where Karch led his high school volleyball team at Santa Barbara High School to an undefeated senior season and was named the state's high school MVP. During his high school years, he also played for the U.S. junior national team.
Kiraly went on to attend UCLA, earning a B.S. in biochemistry in 1983 while leading the Bruins to three national titles (1979, 1981, 1982).
[edit] 1988 Olympics
Kiraly went on to become a fixture on the national team through much of the 1980s as a combination setter/hitter. Team USA would win Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988 with Kiraly. He was also named by FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) as the top player in the world in 1986 and 1988.
After the 1988 Olympics, he retired from the national team. After a stint of club volleyball in Italy (Il Messaggero of Ravenna), he returned to the U.S. to play beach volleyball full-time. Kiraly has won a record 148 professional beach volleyball titles, and partnered with Kent Steffes to win the first men's Olympic beach volleyball tournament in 1996. Even in his mid-forties, he continues to compete effectively against far younger players; his early-2000s partnership with Mike Lambert revitalized his career. His most recent win came in August 2005, when he and Lambert won an AVP tournament in Huntington Beach, California. He has won over $3 million in prize money in beach volleyball, also a record.
[edit] AVP
During recent AVP tours, Kiraly has partnered with Mike Lambert. In 2006, Kiraly partnered with Larry Witt
Kiraly is known for his trademark pink cap that he wears while playing on the AVP tour.
While not playing, Kiraly serves as a commentator for women's final and other matches.
[edit] Personal
Kiraly currently resides in San Clemente, California with his wife Janna and two sons, Kristian and Kory.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Par J. Arvidsson Rowdy Gaines Oliver Luck Kenneth W. Sims Lynette Woodard |
NCAA Top Five Award Class of 1983 Bruce Baumgartner John Elway Richard J. Giusto Charles F. Kiraly David R. Rimington |
Succeeded by John E. Frank Beth Heiden Terrell L. Hoage Stefan G. Humphries Steve Young |
Categories: 1960 births | Living people | American volleyball players | Beach volleyball players | Hungarian-Americans | Lambda Chi Alpha brothers | Olympic beach volleyball players | Olympic volleyball players of the United States | People from Jackson, Michigan | People from Santa Barbara, California | UCLA Bruins athletics | Volleyball players at the 1984 Summer Olympics | Volleyball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics | Volleyball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics | University of California, Los Angeles alumni
