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

Quick Facts
  • 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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