Karch Kiraly
Charles Kiraly, better known as Karch Kiraly , 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.
Encyclopedia
Charles Kiraly, better known as
Karch Kiraly , 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.
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 he led his high school volleyball team 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 .
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 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 , 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.
AVP
During recent AVP tours, Kiraly has partnered with Mike Lambert. In 2006, Kiraly is partnering 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.
Personal
Kiraly currently resides in
San Clemente, California with his wife Janna and two sons, Kristian and Kory.
External links
