Steven Edward "Steve" Salmons (born July 3, 1958) is an American former volleyball player. He helped the United States men's national volleyball team win the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[1] He also helped the national team win gold medals at the 1985 FIVB World Cup and the 1986 FIVB World Championship, thus achieving the "triple crown".[2][3]

Steve Salmons
Personal information
BornSteven Edward Salmons
July 3, 1958 (1958-07-03) (age 66)
Saint Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
College / UniversityUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Number3 (national team)
29 (UCLA)
National team
1978–1986 United States
Medal record
Men's volleyball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Los Angeles Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1986 Paris
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1985 Japan
Goodwill Games
Silver medal – second place 1986 Moscow
NORCECA Championship
Gold medal – first place 1983 Indianapolis

College

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Salmons was a four-year starter on the UCLA volleyball team (1977–‘79, ‘81) as a middle blocker.[4] While at UCLA, Salmons was a teammate of legendary beach volleyball player Sinjin Smith.[5]

Salmons was named the 1979 NCAA Player of the Year, leading the Bruins to the National Championship with a 31–0 record - the first undefeated team in NCAA history.[6]

In 1979, Salmons suffered a severe back injury while representing the United States at the Pan Am Games, yet was able to return to play for the Bruins at the end of the 1981 season, helping spark a five-game victory over the Tim Hovland and Steve Timmons led USC Trojans to earn another NCAA title.[4][6] He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team (his third time '78,'79,'81) along with MVP Karch Kiraly and Steve Gulnac.[6] In addition to earning the 1979 NCAA Player of the Year, Salmons was named All-American in 1978 and 1979.[4]

In 2000, Salmons was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame.[4] On March 30, 2001, UCLA retired his jersey (No. 29) in pre-match ceremonies.[7]

Personal life

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Salmons currently resides in San Diego and owns the real estate company Commercial Properties Service (CPS).[3] He and his wife Cathy have three children children: William (Reece) Salmons, Taylor Salmons, and Alexis Salmons.[8] His son Reece was a setter for UCLA.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Olympic results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Steve Salmons, 2018". Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Steve Salmons". Olympedia. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Steve Salmons". UCLA Athletics. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. ^ @UCLAMVB (March 12, 2015). "TBT: @sinjin_smith #22 and Steve Salmons #29!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ a b c "Volleyball" (PDF). NCAA. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "Bruins Avenge Warriors in Men's Volleyball". UCLA Athletics. March 30, 2001. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Reece Salmons". UCLA Athletics. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
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