Kiraly Ends Olympic Bid

Karch Kiraly, the only three-time gold medalist in Olympic volleyball history, will not pursue a fourth this year. Instead, he will be a commentator for NBC during its beach volleyball broadcasts.

Kiraly, 43, won gold playing indoors in 1984 and ’86 and won on the beach in ’96. He switched partners during the off-season and has not accumulated any Olympic qualifying points with Mike Lambert.

“I couldn’t qualify even if I wanted to,” Kiraly said. “For any team to start now, it’s too late.”

Olympic qualifying is based on performances in FIVB events between June 2003 and July 2004. The top two teams from each nation qualify.

With seven qualifying events left, the top U.S. men’s teams are Dain Blanton and Jeff Nygaard with 2,080 points and Todd Rogers and Sean Scott with 1,468 points.