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Blanton, Dain
- 2000 Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball
- First African American major title winner in pro beach volleyball
- Led Pepperdine to ’92 NCAA team title
- Blanton and court partner Jeff Nygaard are favorites to represent the U.S. at the ’04 Olympics.
- Earned 2003 AVP Tour Team of the Year award with partner Nygaard
- Won 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia with partner Eric Fonoimoana, beating the world’s top ranked team from Brazil.
- Was a finalist for the ABC TV show “The Bachelor” in 2003.
- In 1997 became the first African American pro player in the history of beach volleyball to win a major title.
- Led the Pepperdine Waves to the ’92 NCAA Championship.
- Upon graduation from Pepperdine with a degree in Public Relations, he acquired his teaching credentials.
- Started playing volleyball at 11 years old because his older brother Kurt played.
- Considers his mother the biggest inspiration in his life – “She is selfless and always striving to make other people better.”
- Enjoys golf, mountain biking, and outdoor activities in his free time.
- Considers Tiger Woods and Magic Johnson his favorite athletes.
- Runs own website at www.dainblanton.com
As a role model for African-American and inner city kids, Blanton established "Dain's Day at the Beach," a series of volleyball clinics to expose kids throughout Los Angeles' urban areas to the sport of beach volleyball. At these clinics, youths are given fundamental lessons on beach volleyball, and Blanton stresses the importance of education, goal setting, and overcoming racial obstacles.
On being a volleyball role model: "A lot of kids don't like basketball. Volleyball gives them another option. I was lucky to have grown up on the coast where volleyball is big, but most African-American kids have no accessibility to the game."
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Height: 6' 3"
Born: 28-Nov-71
Hometown: Laguna Beach, Calif.
Resides: Santa Monica, Calif.
Sport: Beach Volleyball
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