Benjamin Patch (born June 21, 1994) is an American former volleyball player who played for the United States national volleyball team.[1] Patch helped the United States national team win the gold medal at the 2017 NORCECA Championship.[2]

Benjamin Patch
Patch in 2020
Personal information
Born (1994-06-21) June 21, 1994 (age 30)
Layton, Utah, U.S.
HometownProvo, Utah, U.S.
Height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight198 lb (90 kg)
Spike150 in (382 cm)
Block141 in (358 cm)
College / UniversityBrigham Young University
Volleyball information
PositionOpposite
Number13
Career
YearsTeams
2013
2016–2017
2017–2018
2018–2022
BYU Cougars
BYU Cougars
Volley Callipo
Berlin Recycling Volleys
National team
2015–2021 United States
Honours
Men's volleyball
Representing  United States
FIVB World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Italy/Bulgaria
FIVB World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Japan
FIVB Nations League
Silver medal – second place 2019 Chicago
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Lille
NORCECA Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 United States

Personal life

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Patch was raised by white, Mormon adoptive parents in Utah, and he served as a missionary in Columbus, Ohio, for one year.[3]

In October 2020, Patch publicly came out as queer in the German publication Der Tagesspiegel.[4] He became the first openly queer active player in a German men's professional sports league.[5][6]

Patch maintains an active ceramic art practice and a photography business alongside his professional volleyball career.[7][8]

Sporting achievements

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College

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Clubs

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Youth national team

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Individual awards

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References

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  1. ^ "GER M: American colony in BR Volleys increases by one player – Ben Patch!". www.worldofvolley.com. August 2, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "Vibo Valentia: Da BYU arriva Ben Patch". www.volleyball.it (in Italian). May 28, 2017. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. ^ Goddemeier, Sebastian. "Benjamin Patch: "Queer sollte die neue Norm sein"". queer.de.
  4. ^ "Queerer Volleyball-Profi Benjamin Patch: Nicht schwul, nicht hetero – aber offen für alles". plus.tagesspiegel.de.
  5. ^ "Volleyballer Patch: "Viele sagen Danke, auch die Fußballer"". kicker.
  6. ^ "Volleys-Star Benjamin Patch im Interview: "Ich bin queer, keine Frage"". Sportbuzzer.de.
  7. ^ ""Als hätte ich über meine Lieblings-Kaugummisorte gesprochen"". www.rbb24.de.
  8. ^ Davis, Ari (April 21, 2017). "Volleyball powerhouse Ben Patch creates thriving photography business". The Daily Universe.
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