Dain Blanton, who captured the 2000 Olympic Gold Medal in men’s beach volleyball in Sydney, Australia and now provi
des motivational
messages to both adults and youth groups across the nation, will serve as the closing keynote speaker at the 2014 CoSIDA Convention.
His presentation –
Getting to Gold – will parallel his experiences and the successful formula he used in pursuit of that Olympic Gold Medal with “most every pursuit in life and business.”
Blanton’s presentation is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, June 11, from 2:15-3:30 pm on the final day of convention programming and prior to the closing social beach volleyball event hosted by USA Volleyball. Blanton will also take part in the closing convention social which is sponsored by CoSIDA’ corporate partner USA Volleyball at the Marriott World Center's sand volleyball courts. Blanton will join other sand volleyball players in exhibitions, with convention attendees vying for promotional prizes and giveways in volleyball-themed contests.
The CoSIDA Convention takes place in conjunction with NACDA and Affliates Convention Week at the World Center Marriott in Orlando. The CoSIDA convention's kickoff keynote speaker will be noted executive and best-selling author
Bob Beaudine on Sunday, June 8. Beaudine will speak on his internationally acclaimed "The Power of Who" as he challenges many widely held presumptions regarding how to get the job and career you want, including the importance of traditional networking. Instead, Beaudine says, you should identify people within your group of friends and friends of friends — as they are the foundation for helping you achieve your goals.
In addition to his participation in the 2000 Olympics as a member of the USA Team, Blanton returned to the Games in Athens 2004. In doing so, he became the first U.S. male to compete in two different Olympics in the sport of Beach Volleyball.
In 1997, Blanton became the first-ever African-American to win a major beach volleyball title when he won the Hermosa Beach Grand Slam. He
is also one of the only players in the history of volleyball to win a championship at every level of the game (collegiate, professional, Olympics).
Blanton attended Pepperdine University, where helped the Waves earn the 1992 National Championship in volleyball during his sophomore season. He earned his degree in public relations and received a teaching credential in physical education.
After his athletic career, Blanton used his education and directed his attention and focus toward becoming a sports broadcaster. He is currently a sports broadcaster and motivational speaker to youth across the nation. An analyst for professional beach volleyball worldwide, Blanton covers the FIVB (Federation of International Volleyball), AVP, NVL (National Volleyball League), and the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Series. He also has served as a sideline reporter for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers and has worked with ABC, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports Net and Universal Sports Network in the sports of college football and basketball, and MLB baseball.
Blanton provides a sponsor-driven series of volleyball clinics that exposes youth in urban areas across the country to the fundamental lessons of beach volleyball. The youth also learn from Blanton the importance of education, goal setting, vision and focus, leadership and discipline.