AUSTRALIAN BEACH VOLLEYBALLER
OLYMPIAN
2x COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALLIST
CHRIS MCHUGH.
2022 & 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist | 2020 Tokyo Olympian | 5x Asian Beach Volleyball Champion 7x Australian Champion | 2x FIVB World Tour Gold Medallist | 4x FIVB World Tour Medallist
10x Asian Beach Volleyball Tour Champion
A self-describe ‘regular Aussie bloke’, Chris McHugh is a 2-time Commonwealth Games Gold medallist and Tokyo Olympian competing in Beach Volleyball. Proudly representing Australia at 118 FIVB International tournaments throughout his 14 year career, he is one of Australia’s longest serving and most successful make beach volleyballers.
Chris is notorious for his monster jump serve, spikes and athleticism combine with a world class level of strategic thinking, leadership and performance in high-pressure moments.
A father of 2, Chris is passionate about children’s health and wellbeing. Chris spends time helping to inspire and get kids moving through his involvement as a school presenter in the Olympics Unleashed Program, as well as being an ambassador for the SA Premier’s Be Active Challenge. Chris is also involved in The Australian Institute of Sport’s Share a Yarn program, using his profile to give back to the community.
Chris has faced many challenges throughout his career, particularly after 13 surgeries, including 5 knee surgeries in 18 months, and hand saving surgery at the age of 20 from blood clots whilst trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. Through his experience overcoming setbacks, disappointments and forming new playing partnerships, Chris has learnt an immense amount about himself, alongside important strategies to overcome these setbacks, and form strong successful teams to ultimately succeed on and off the court.
Chris’ story is one of persistence, personal growth and never backing down.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mexico - 6-15th October 2023
PRO TOUR
Haikou, China - Pro Tour Challenger - 2nd November 2023
Chang Mai, Thailand - Pro Tour Challenger - 16th November 2023
Geelong, Australia - Pro Tour Futures - 22nd November 2023
Nuvali, Philippines - Pro Tour Challenger - 30th November 2023
CAREER TIMELINE
2022
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Birmingham Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
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Kusadasi Challenger Silver Medal
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World Beach Volleyball Championships Italy
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Semi Finalist FIVB Morocco Challenger
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World Ranking #12
2021
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Tokyo Olympic Games
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Asian Beach Volleyball Championships Gold Medallist
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AVC Continental Cup Champion
2020
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Australian Champion
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Australian Beach Volleyball World Tour Winner
2019
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Asian Beach Volleyball Championships Gold Medallist
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Phenom Pehn 2 Star Gold Medallist
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Australian Beach Volleyball Champion
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World Ranking #22
2018
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Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
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Australian Champion
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Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Leader
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World Ranking #18
2017
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FIVB Sheparton Gold Medallist
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Australian Champion
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World Beach Volleyball Championships Austria (9th)
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World Ranking #21
2016
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Asian Beach Tour Gold x2
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World Ranking #21
2015
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Asian Beach Volleyball Championships Gold Medallist
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World Beach Volleyball Championships Netherlands (9th)
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Asian Beach Volleyball Tour Gold Medallist x3
2014
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Asian Beach Volleyball Tour Gold Medallist x4
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FIVB Klagenfurt Grand Slam Bronze Medal
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Australian Champion
2013
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Asian Beach Volleyball Championships Gold Medallist
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World Beach Volleyball Championships Poland (9th)
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Australian Champion
2012
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World Ranking #23
2011
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World Ranking #25
2010
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Australian Champion
2009
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Australian Champion
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FIVB Tournaments 12
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World Ranking #47
2008
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U21 World Championships England (5th)
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8 FIVB World Tour Events
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World Ranking #61
2007
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Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship
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Senior National Team Selection
2006
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U19 World Championships Poland
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World Tour Debut Canada
2005
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U19 World Championships Bermuda
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
CHRIS' SPEAKING TOPICS
Teamwork | Resilience | Communication | Strategic Direction
Corporate Team Trainings | Q&A Panels
Strategic Thinking: The Long & Short Game
Beach Volleyball is the ultimate team and strategic sport with outcomes decided by spilt second decisions whilst under extreme physical and mental duress. Understanding yourself, as well as, if not better then the competition is critical to strategic success. This self-awareness can only be present with continual learning, pushing the boundaries and ultimate honesty within yourself and the team your apart of. Chris will present through sharing his own journey the pitfalls, traps and key learnings he has made in his career.
Performance Under Pressure & Planning To Succeed
There are no substitutions in beach volleyball and you are 50% of the team standing on the court. The pressure is on you to deliver for the team both physically but mentally and emotionally to play well. We plan for success whether it is ingraining habits which help each other deliver certain skills in times of high pressure or to periodise the year’s competition so we are peaking at critical events such as the Olympics. How do we choose what important? And what are the ‘Big Rocks’ we can move or change that will give us the most bang for our buck and energy?
Tightest Team Win’s
Creating winning teams isn’t easy and each team is uniquely different with each team member having different motivations, values but ultimately must have the same goal. Throughout his 15 years of competing at the pinnacle of international beach volleyball Chris has shown the innate ability to lead, to follow and to be a significant part of winning teams on and off the sand. Chris draws on this experience to help create winning ways in all teams and shares the tips to success.
Real Relationships
The relationship between players on a beach volleyball team is the most unique one in the sporting world. Imagine spending more time with one person more than your significant other all whilst travelling the world competing weekly against the world’s best. Being able to build trust and have complete confidence in the guy standing next to you takes practice, a commitment to be vulnerable and a deep understanding of a person. Chris walks through the process he uses and how over his career this has evolved from being the ‘junior’ to the ‘experienced’ athlete now having a team mate 9 years his junior.
SPONSORS
If you're interested in working with Chris, please contact Agency X via the enquiry form or contact details below.
Tel: 0419 719 792