Chris McHugh (beach volleyball)

Chris (Christopher) McHugh (born 31 August 1989) is a male beach volleyball player from Australia.

Chris McHugh
Personal information
Full nameChristopher McHugh
NationalityAustralian
Born (1989-08-31) 31 August 1989
Height1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Beach volleyball information
Current teammate
Years Teammate
2021–present Paul Burnett
Previous teammates
Years Teammate
2016-2021
2012-2016
2010-2012		 Damien Schumann
Isaac Kapa
Joshua Slack
Honours
Men's beach volleyball
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
2018 Gold CoastBeach
Asian Beach Volleyball Championships
2021Phuket
2020Udon Thani
2016Sydney
2014Jinjiang
2012Haikou
2017Songkhla

He represented Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, both with teammate Damien Schumann, winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.[1] Unfortunately, competing at the 2020 Olympics, the pair were knocked out in the group stage after finishing at the bottom of their pool.[2][3]

Early years

In Year 3 at school, McHugh participated in Spikezone Mini Volleyball. He did this as he didn't want to go to clarinet lessons on Wednesday afternoons. McHugh then joined the Henley Hawks Volleyball Club in South Australia. His ambition was to become a first class Beach Volleyball player.

McHugh made his professional volleyball debut in 2006, at just 17 years of age.[4]

McHugh studied at St Michael's College in 2007 while training at the Australian Institute of Volleyball. McHugh is now an AIS Share a Yarn Ambassador, a program fostering connections and education with the ATSI (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) community. [4]

Achievements

McHugh participated at three World Championships in 2013, 2015 and 2017. He won his first tournament at the 2012 AVC Beach Volleyball Championships partnering Joshua Slack (now retired). He then had Isaac Kapa as a partner for four years before pairing up with Damien Schumann.[4]

The Schumann/McHugh partnership has been very strong and they won medals four times before their Commonwealth Games debut in 2018. At the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, they made the final undefeated. In the gold medal final they defeated Canadian pair Sam Pedlow and Sam Schachter.

Outside of beach volleyball, Chris is vice president of his first club, the Henley Hawks Volleyball Club. Here he helps mentor young athletes, as well as speaking at local schools to encourage early involvement in volleyball.[4]

Since he began competing on the FIVB World Tour in 2006, McHugh has played over 600 matches. He is a six-time Australian Champion and in 2017 and in the best ranked team in Asia/Oceania.

During 2019 Chris became a father, with his wife, Denai, giving birth to Jack on September 24, 2019.[4]

References
  1. "How McHugh turned the tables on Australia's beach volleyball return". ESPN.com. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  2. "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  3. "Beach Volleyball McHUGH Christopher - Tokyo 2020 Olympics". olympics.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. "Christopher McHugh". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
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