Winning the gold medal was not the first milestone in the illustrious career of Dain Blanton. In 1997 Dain became a pioneer in the sport of beach volleyball becoming the first African American pro player in the history of the sport to win a major title.

He saved his first career victory for the richest payday in beach volleyball history -- The $300,000 Hermosa Beach AVP Grand Slam. Since his first victory in the summer of 1997 things have been falling into place for the young Blanton. Dain has been burning up the sands of the AVP and FIVB World Tours in preparation for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

With his outstanding performance on the court, and recent media attention off the court (E! Entertainment TV, MTV, NBC, ESPN, TBS, BET, FOX Sports) Dain has received worldwide exposure and found himself in a unique position; that of role model for other African-American and inner city kids. "A lot of kids don't like basketball. Volleyball gives them another option," he continued. "I was lucky to have grown up on the coast where volleyball is big, but most African-American kids have no accessibility to the game."

In 1997, Dain established "Dain's Day at the Beach", a sponsor driven series of volleyball clinics to expose kids throughout Los Angeles' urban areas to the sport of beach volleyball. At these clinics, youths are given fundamental lessons on beach volleyball, and Dain stresses the importance of education, goal setting, and overcoming racial obstacles.

All of the recent attention Dain has received is a true testament to the dedication and determination that he has put into the sport. Blanton, who grew up in the volleyball-rich neighborhood of Laguna Beach, Calif., has always possessed the perfect balance of grace and power. As a high school senior in 1990, Blanton was named the Orange County Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player of the Pacific Coast League and earned all-American honors at the Junior Olympics.

After turning down several basketball scholarships to college, Dain chose to follow his passion and accepted a full scholarship to Pepperdine University in Malibu. In only his second year at Pepperdine, Dain led the Pepperdine Waves to a National Championship. Upon graduation from Pepperdine with a degree in Public Relations, and acquiring his teaching credentials, Dain felt that he could make some waves on the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

Dain looks to continue breaking new ground and hopes that his new found celebrity will help him to create opportunities for himself and other African-Americans both on and off the sand.