Christopher McHugh - Beach Volleyball
Growing up in Adelaide I discovered mini volleyball in year 4 at Torrensville Primary School to get out of clarinet lessons after school. From there my passion for the sport continued to grow as I progress along the volleyball pathway to 6 a side indoor volleyball for Henley Hawks Volleyball Club and was eventually selected in the U17 State Indoor 3rd Team in 2005 to compete in the national champions in Adelaide. At this tournament I was noticed by a SASI coach and subsequently invited to participate in the SASI Volleyball program from 2005 to 2007 in which time I was introduced to Beach Volleyball and hence selected to the Australian Institiute of Sport Beach Volleyball program based at SASI.
Since my introduction to Beach Volleyball in 2007 I have had the privilege of being a senior national team member whose highlights include:
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- Tokyo 2020 Olympian
- 2018 & 2022 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Gold Medal
- Asian Beach Volleyball Champion 2020, 2015, 2014, 2013
- Time Australian Beach Volleyball Champion
- Bronze Medallist FIVB Austrian Grand Slam 2014
- 105 FIVB International Tournaments
The best thing about being a SASI Athlete
Coming everyday to ‘work’ to be surrounded by like minded coaches, athletes and administrators who are all working towards a common goal.
My favourite food to fuel me as an Athlete
Scrambled eggs on toast with avocado
My favourite movie
Remember the Titans
My favourite colours
Blue
My sporting hero and why
Glenn McGarth ( Cricket) – Just a genuine champion who had great skill and played hard for his country.
My Favourite possession
Fishing Rod.
The sporting activity I most like performing
Being in the Gym.
If I wasn’t doing my current sport I would like to be
Firefighter
The most important things in life
Family, friends , good food and health
My Ambassador Activity tip
Every little bit helps! It doesn’t matter where you start, as long as you start and not where you finish.
My favourite way to keep active
Beach Volleyball and walks with the family.
The sport I like watching the most
AFL, Volleyball
What sporting success looks like
Giving everything you have and leaving it on the pitch / court no matter the outcome.