Head Shot
Volleyball

Dain Blanton

Olympian 2000, 2004

  • 1

    GOLD

  • 0

    SILVER

  • 0

    BRONZE

Athlete Bio#

Height

6'3"

Age

53

Hometown

Laguna Beach, CA

Education

Laguna Beach High School Pepperdine, public relations

Personal
Broadcaster for NBC Sports, among several other networks...Played basketball and volleyball in high school...Appeared on the ABC show The Bachelor, in the show's third season
Career Highlights
  • Won the Olympic gold medal in 2000 with partner Eric Fonoimoana
  • Bronze medalist at the FIVB Beach World Championships in 1997
  • Is an on-air broadcaster for NBC during the Olympic Games
  • DID YOU KNOW
  • ---
  • Dain is a strong supporter of the 2028 Olympics being hosted in Los Angeles
  • Played his last professional event in 2010, on the AVP Tour
  • Became the first U.S. male beach volleyball Olympian to play in two Olympic Games
  • In his career, had two FIVB World Tour gold medals and six medals total
  • In domestic play, Blanton tallied eight first-place finishes on the AVP Tour and 36 podium finishes
  • Was the first male African-American to win a major beach volleyball event, the 1997 AVP Hermosa Grand Slam
  • Was an All-American at Pepperdine, and on the 1992 National Championship team as a sophomore
Olympic Experience
  • 2-time Olympian; 1-time Olympic medalist (1 gold)
    • Olympic Games Athens 2004, 19th (Team - Men)
    • Olympic Games Sydney 2000, gold (Team - Men)
World Championships Experience
  • Most recent: 2005 – 17th (Team - Men)
  • Years of participation: Team - Men 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005
  • Medals: 1 (1 bronze)
    • Bronze – 1997 (Team - Men)

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