Dain Blanton's rise to the Olympic Gold Medal in beach volleyball was one of the most inspirational stories of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Together with then-partner, Eric Fonoimoana, Blanton staged one of the most dynamic upsets in Olympic history, beating a top-ranked and heavily favored Brazilian team that entered the Olympics at the top of their game.
Blanton has used his success in the sport to affect social change among the next generation of volleyball enthusiasts. He founded "Dain's Day at the Beach" as a way to reach out to inner-city kids who were otherwise not able to enjoy what the sport of volleyball has to offer. Through his generosity, kids from the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America and other youth community organizations are able to learn the sport of volleyball, develop valuable socialization skills, learn the importance of staying in school, and enjoy a day on the beach with and Olympic Champion.
He was a standout indoor player, and a member of the 1992 NCAA National Championship team at Pepperdine University in Malibu. His defensive prowess combined with his mental capacity for the game make Blanton one of the most versatile players in the world. Blanton graduated from Pepperdine with a degree in Public Relations, before turning full-time to the professional beach tours. His legacy as the first African-American pro beach player to win the U.S. Open was only eclipsed by his accomplishments at the Sydney Olympics. He is the only African-American player in the U.S. to have won an Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball.
His self-assured personality combined with his confident public speaking style makes Dain Blanton one of the most highly sought-after Olympic Champions on the speaker's circuit. He has joined forces in the past with such sports icons as Muhammed Ali and Tiger Woods to support charitable initiatives. He is an active contributor to youth sports programs and charities, and has volunteered for special appearances with the United States Youth Volleyball League (USYVL), the nation's largest grassroots development league for the sport of volleyball. (A full biography on Dain Blanton is available online at www.dainblanton.com.)
For more information on partnership opportunities with Olympic Champion, Dain Blanton, please contact Sports Placement Service at mail@sportsplacement.com or visit online at www.dainblanton.com.
