Smith retires from sport
By Daily Bruin Staff
Aug. 26, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Sinjin
Smith leaves it all on the beach in his final pro
tournament at Manhattan Beach on Saturday.
By Scott Schultz
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Sinjin Smith, the captain of the first undefeated UCLA
volleyball team in 1979 and beach volleyball’s first
international superstar, officially retired from the sport Saturday
after being eliminated from the Manhattan Beach Open.
The 44-year-old Smith, who represented the United States in the
1996 Summer Olympics in beach volleyball, was also a member of the
1980 US Olympic team which boycotted the Moscow games.
“All of us who play beach volleyball for a living have to
be grateful for all Sinjin Smith has done over the last 25
years,” two-time Olympic beach volleyball player and former
Bruin Holly McPeak said.
"The rest of my body feels good, but my knee is a constant
worry." Sinjin Smith Retired volleyball player
He leaves the game with 139 tournament victories, second only to
former Bruin teammate Karch Kirali’s 143.
Smith blamed his chronic right knee soreness for forcing his
retirement.
“The rest of my body feels good, but my knee is a constant
worry,” Smith said. “Otherwise, I would still be out
there.”
BEACH LEGEND’S LEGACY Smith has set the
standard for all future volleyball players. SOURCE: UCLA Sports
Info Original graphic by SEAN WATERS/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Web
adaptation by MIKE OUYANG/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Smith referred to his Olympic experience and his contribution
toward expanding the popularity of the sport as his career
highlights. However, Smith has no regrets about leaving the
game.
“I played five games yesterday and was competitive against
the top people, and that felt nice for my last competition,”
he said.
Smith hopes to stay involved with the Association of Volleyball
Professionals, the official beach volleyball league, as either an
announcer or as a spokesman.
“I have all the confidence in the world that the AVP tour
will work its way back to the level of its hey-day (1980s) and
beyond,” he said. “And I’ll do whatever’s
in my capacity to help.”
