Matt Hewson
It’s been a busy week in Torquay for beach volleyball Olympian Chris McHugh, with a bronze medal in the Beach Pro Tour Challenge on Sunday, a visit to Torquay College on Monday and the beginning of the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16s on Wednesday.
McHugh’s visit to Torquay P-6 College was part of the Olympics Unleashed program, where he met 150 Year 5 students to tell his Olympic story and answer questions from the children.
“If I can help inspire a child to get out and give something a go and take it, represent Australia at a sport or just be the best person that they can be, then I have done my job as an athlete and as a representative of volleyball,” McHugh said.
“These initiatives create more connections between representing your country and the people you represent. These are the people you represent each and every day. It’s not just my family, or my parents and volleyball, it’s the greater community that you represent.
“It gives you that grounding to go out and give it your best on the court no matter what, knowing that school kids watching are proud of you, whatever happens.”
On Sunday, McHugh and Paul Burnett, who won Commonwealth Games gold together in Birmingham, faced off against Portuguese duo Joao Pedrosa and Hugo Campos in the bronze medal match of the Beach Pro Tour Challenge event.
The Aussies led for most of the match, winning their first set 21-18 and closing out the second 21-15 to take their first straight-sets victory of the event and claim third place.
“It was a really good performance for most of the day,” said McHugh.
“To come away with the bronze medal at your home event is really special and I am sure we’ll look back at this season really fondly in the future.”
In the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16s event, which began on Tuesday, McHugh and Burnett already have two wins under their belt after day one, defeating Switzerland and USA in the first two pool matches, almost guaranteeing them a place in Friday’s quarter finals.
