Hagen Smith, a former UCLA volleyball setter, is pursuing a spot on the United States' 2028 Olympic beach volleyball team, nearly 15 years after a shark bite incident.
Smith's foot was injured by a shark about a decade and a half ago when he was 15. The incident occurred at Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles after a volleyball tournament. Initially believing he was attacked by a stingray, Smith later realized the greater danger when he saw the extent of his injuries. He required approximately 20 to 30 stitches to close the wounds on his toes and foot. Despite the trauma, he made a full recovery.
Following the attack, Smith went on to star for UCLA's volleyball team. After graduating, he established himself as a prominent player on the AVP tour.
Now 31, Smith sees the Olympics as the pinnacle of beach volleyball, a goal amplified by the 2028 Games being hosted in Long Beach, California, near his hometown. His father, Sinjin Smith, a UCLA volleyball legend, competed in the 1996 Olympic Games, further fueling Hagen's lifelong ambition.
"It's been a dream of mine since I can remember," Smith told The California Post. "My dad, being who he is, what he's done for the sport and being in the first Olympics, it's always been that dream, that goal of mine."
Smith is exploring various paths to qualify for the U.S. Olympic roster, which he acknowledges will likely involve significant success on the international circuit over the next two years. "There's a long way to go, but that is the ultimate goal," he stated.
While Smith has not yet finalized a partner for his Olympic pursuit, he hopes to attract one soon. He is scheduled to compete with other professional players at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach on July 11-12, the same venue that will host Olympic beach volleyball events in 2028. This upcoming AVP League stop is seen as an opportunity to gauge the conditions at the Olympic site. "It'll be cool to be the test run for the Olympics. That'll be a good opportunity for us to see how it plays down there," Smith said.