1 KING KIRALY Karch Kiraly was just 23 at the 1984 Olympics But he showed the world why he would soon be known as the best volleyball player of all time Kiraly was the youngest member of the US men’s national team at that year’s Games But he played perhaps the biggest role in the team’s gold-medal success His amazing passing skills gave US coach Doug Beal an idea In those days volleyball players didn’t specialize as much on specific skills For example serves were received by anyone who could reach them But Beal wanted his best passers to receive as many Karch Kiraly sets the ball against Japan in the 1988 Summer Olympics 4
Kiraly became a legend on the beach volleyball circuit too serves as possible So he put Kiraly and teammate Aldis Berzins in charge of serve reception Kiraly’s pinpoint passing was vital to the US attack as the team rolled to the gold medal in Los Angeles That was the beginning of a legendary career Kiraly became US captain in 1985 and guided the team to the 6
1986 World Championship Then he helped the United States win Olympic gold again in 1988 Kiraly was named the US team’s Most Valuable Player MVP of the tournament Kiraly’s success reached beyond the hard court He is the winningest beach volleyball player of all time He won gold on the beach at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia with partner Kent Steffes That made Kiraly the first to win indoor and beach volleyball gold at the Olympics He ended his career with a record 148 beach titles SELF-SERVICE Kiraly’s phenomenal ball control led to plenty of great sets from his teammates which in turn helped boost his ability as an attacker He was so easy to set because he would pass the ball perfectly every time He’d practically set himself said Mike Lambert Kiraly’s beach volleyball partner in 2004 and 2005 The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball FIVB is the global governing body of the sport It named Kiraly the best male player of the 20th century One look at his commanding presence on the court makes it easy to see why 7
