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Video length: 3 min
Beach volleyball, from Californian beaches to the Olympic Games
Beach volleyball, from Californian beaches to the Olympic Games
(France 2)
The beach volleyball court at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is probably one of the most exciting Olympic venues. Born in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, this sport made its Olympic debut in 1996 in Atlanta.
This is the California dream: strolling along the beaches of Santa Monica and playing beach volleyball. More than a sport, it’s a way of life, which explains why the United States holds the historical record for Olympic titles. In California, beach volleyball is played at any time of day, in a sunny setting much appreciated by players.
Most of the champions grew up here, like Holly McPeak, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist. Born in California in the 1920s, beach volleyball grew in popularity before becoming a symbol of virility in a mythical scene of Top Gun. At that time, Sijin Smith, now 67, was among the best of his generation. He would be selected for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where beach volleyball made its debut. His son Hagen was selected for Los Angeles in 2028. After being exported, beach volleyball would be played on its home soil.