Sinjin Smith: Volleyball
Christopher St. John “Sinjin” Smith (born 7 May 1957) was a professional beach volleyball player from the USA. “The King of the Beach” started competing as a professional at the age of fifteen in the two man beach volleyball tournaments. Smith attended UCLA and played the position of a setter and outside hitter under the head coach, Al Scates. Sinjin Smith is considered to be one of the greatest beach volleyball players in the history of the sport.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Sinjin Smith won 114 beach titles together with his partner Randy Stoklos. His beach volleyball career ended with over 140 beach doubles victories.
Smith also won the Manhattan Beach open six times, the FIVB World Championship four times and was named AVP’s Best Defensive Player three times.
He was the first player to reach 100 career open victories.
He is a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, International Volleyball Hall of Fame, California Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame and his no. 22 jersey is one of 13 UCLA volleyball jerseys that retired.
Why Was He So Good?
Sinjin Smith competed in more beach volleyball events than any other player. His strength in the sport is implacable mental roughness. He is outstanding in defense and wears down the rivals with relentless side outs. He is known to be an expert of game fundamentals.
What You May Not Know
- Sinjin had a brief career as a television actor. He appeared in an episode of “Magnum, P.I.”.
- He played his first career even in 1977 with Ron Von Hagen and won his first event that same year with Mike Norman.
- When Sinjin Smith was a senior at UCLA, Karch Kiraly was an incoming freshman. They paired for team drills and volleyball strength training exercises.
- Smith retired in 2001 to play golf, tennis, surf and train horses.
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