“I certainly think it's ironic that beach volleyball was first played in the 1930s in Santa Monica and tournaments of a high caliber have been happening in this country since the 1940s, and the FIVB, for many years, has ignored beach volleyball.”

American volleyball player, coach, and broadcast announcer

Charles Frederick “Karch” Kiraly is an American volleyball player, coach, and broadcast announcer. Born in 1960, he became a central figure on the U.S. national team and won Olympic gold in 1984, 1988, and again in 1996, when beach volleyball made its Olympic debut. He played college volleyball for the UCLA Bruins, helping the team win three national championships under Al Scates. Kiraly is notable for spanning both indoor and beach volleyball at the highest level, and for being the only player to win Olympic medals in both categories.