Kloth/Nuss Roll to Victory in Olympic Debut - USA Volleyball (2024)

FAQs

What rank is Kloth and Nuss? ›

Ranked second in the world, Kloth and Nuss are making their Olympic debuts, whereas Artacho del Solar and Clancy were both making their third Olympic appearance and are ranked 21st in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Rankings..

The U.S. Women have won one Olympic gold medal (2020), three silver medals (1984, 2008 and 2012) and two bronze medals (1992 and 2016).

The Soviet Union won a medal in both the men's and women's competition at the first five Olympics that included volleyball, including the men's gold medal in Tokyo. The Japanese women's team won the gold at the inaugural Olympic volleyball competition, and the silver at the following two Games.

Nine of the 12 players on the roster are returning Olympians — a record for any U.S. men's or women's Olympic team. The roster also has an average age of 32 years old, which breaks the record for oldest U.S. Olympic men's or women's volleyball team.

Witness the incredible 50.5-inch vertical jump in volleyball. Explore the heights of volleyball net and player jumps.

Despite her initial apprehensions, Kloth found a perfect partner in Nuss, who was already a formidable player. Together, they achieved an impeccable 36-0 record in 2021, earning multiple accolades, including the prestigious American Volleyball Coaches Association Pair of the Year award.

As of September 2024, the team is ranked sixth in the FIVB Senior World Rankings, with their peak coming at second place prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Nicknamed “Six Feet of Sunshine”, Kerri Walsh-Jennings formed part of the greatest pairing beach volleyball has ever seen, teaming up with Misty May-Treanor to win three Olympic gold medals and three world titles and go unbeaten for a remarkable 112 games.

Volleyball has been part of the Summer Olympics program for both men and women consistently since 1964. Brazil, France, the United States and the former Soviet Union are the only teams to win multiple gold medals at the men's tournament since its introduction.

Who won the volleyball Olympics in 2024? ›

Paris 2024 volleyball: Italy's women win first Olympic volleyball gold in straight sets against USA. In their first-ever final at the Olympic Games, Italy's women defeated reigning champions USA in straight sets to clinch the gold medal at the Paris 2024 on Sunday 11 August.

History has it that William G. Morgan, who invented the game of volleyball in 1895, came up with the idea so that people who found basketball's 'bumping' or 'jolting' too strenuous could have an alternative physical activity to fall back on.

But Nuss, at 5-foot-6, will be the shortest beach player to compete in the Olympics since 1996. Kloth is 6-foot-4. Their height difference is the largest of any Olympic team.

Right-side hitter Devyn Robinson, a junior at UW-Madison, is already off to a strong start in this year's tournament. This past Friday, the 6-foot-3 Robinson finished with a team-high 11 kills, while posting a .

Standing at 8-foot-1, Morteza Mehrzadselakjani - better known as Mehrzad - is the world's second-tallest man and is the tallest ever Paralympian. He won gold with Iran's sitting volleyball team in the 2016 and 2020 editions of the Paralympics.

Take the most recent Olympic team, for example. The shortest player was Eric Shoji, at 6'0”. If you're wondering who the tallest player was, there were actually three who all measure at the 6'10” mark.