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:

• • 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.