Long before Hagen Smith began chasing a spot on Team USA, the future beach volleyball star faced a life-changing scare in the waters off Southern California. At just 15 years old, Smith had finished competing in a volleyball tournament when he went for a swim at Dockweiler Beach and was bitten by a shark. The attack left him needing around 20 to 30 stitches, but he refused to give up the sport. Now, at 31, the former UCLA standout hopes to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
With beach volleyball set to be held in Long Beach, the Games will take place close to the area where Smith grew up. For him, competing at a home Olympics would be something special. “It’s been a dream of mine since I can remember,” Smith told the New York Post.
For Smith, the Olympic dream began long before he became a professional athlete. His father, Sinjin Smith, is one of the most accomplished players in beach volleyball history. He became the first player ever to reach 100 professional beach volleyball tournament victories and finished his career with 139 titles. Sinjin also represented the United States at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the first Games to feature beach volleyball as an official medal sport…