Karch Kiraly

As of September 7, 2011

Charles " Karch " Kiraly ( born November 3, 1960 in Jackson, Michigan ) is a former American professional volleyball and beach volleyball player. He won three times the gold medal at the Olympic Games.

Career

Karch Kiraly was born as the son of Hungarian refugees who had fled to the U.S. after the 1956 uprising in Hungary. His family went to his home to California, where he later in Santa Barbara attended high school and was appointed during this period in the U.S. junior national team.

After high school graduation, he began studying biochemistry at the University of Los Angeles. His volleyball team, he served as the best player to three national championships in 1979, 1981 and 1982 and he was also international. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he won his first Olympic gold medal with the U.S. team. In 1986, he was also world champion and won at the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul in 1988 his second gold medal.

After the Olympic Games in Seoul Kiraly finished his career in the national team and played from 1990 to 1992 at the Italian Club Il Messaggero Ravenna tip, with whom he 1991 Volleyball Club World Cup won in 1992 and Italian was runner-up. Then he returned to the U.S. and was beach volleyball pro. With his partner Kent Steffes he won the gold medal in beach volleyball at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He is the first player, the Olympic champion in both the halls and on the beach. He also holds the record with the most victories in professional beach volleyball ( 148 ) and earned a prize money of more than 3.1 million U.S. dollars.

2001 Karch Kiraly was inducted into the "Volleyball Hall of Fame".

On 22 October 2007 Kiraly announced the end of his career. Most recently, he had always struggled with injuries.

Karch Kiraly lives with his wife and his two sons in San Clemente, California. Now he concentrates on his volleyball junior academy, the Karch Kiraly Volleyball Academy. Since 2009 he is also assistant coach of the U.S. Women's National Team.

Honors

  • AVP Best Defensive Player 2002
  • AVP Best Offensive Player in 1990, 1993, 1994
  • AVP Comeback Player of the Year 1997
  • AVP Miller Lite Cup Champion 1996
  • AVP Most Inspirational 1998
  • AVP Most Valuable Player in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998
  • AVP Outstanding Achievement 2004
  • AVP Special Achievement 2002
  • AVP Sportsman of the Year in 1995, 1997, 1998
  • AVP Team of the Year 2004 ( with Mike Lambert )
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