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Bob Ctvrtlik

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Bob Ctvrtlik
Medal record
Men's volleyball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Team competition
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Team competition
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Paris Team competition
Goodwill Games
Silver medal – second place 1986 Moscow Team competition

Robert Jan Ctvrtlik (/stəˈvɜːrtlɪk/;[1] born July 8, 1963 in Long Beach, California) is an American volleyball player, Olympic gold medalist, businessman and former member of the International Olympic Committee. Ctvrtlik is a 1985 graduate of Pepperdine University.

Playing career

Playing for Pepperdine, Ctvrtlik was the Most Valuable Player in NCAA volleyball in 1985. He also played for California State University, Long Beach in 1983-1984, where he earned all-league honors. In 1982-1983, he was a member of the Long Beach City College Vikings Men's Volleyball team, playing under Vikings head coach Gary Jacobson, where he and longtime friend and doubles partner, Allan Treffry, won the volleyball championship for the State of California. They would eventually be ranked number one in the United States. Ctvrtlik earned all league honors and was awarded the most valuable player in the state championship tournament.

Ctvrtlik subsequently played a year for the Long Beach State, under 49ers coach Ray Ratelle. After one year, he transferred to Pepperdine University, to play his final collegiate year under the leadership and guidance of coaching legend Marv Dunphy, winning both the NCAA Title and personally, the NCAA's coveted Most Valuable Player Award.

After a successful college volleyball career, Bob followed his Pepperdine coach, Marv Dunphy, to the United States national team where Ctvrtlik quickly earned a starting position. In the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, Ctvrtlik, playing opposite of volleyball legend, Karch Kiraly, earned a gold medal by defeating the Soviet Union in the finals. For several years, Ctvrtlik played professionally in Europe, including winning the well-respected Euro-professional league championship. He returned to the United States Olympic team in preparation for the 1992 Summer Olympics during which time he was awarded the most valuable player in the world on two separate occasions. Competing as team captain in Barcelona, he became one of the colorful "bald eagles" as all of the U.S. men's team players shaved their heads in protest of alleged officiating misconduct. The U.S. team defeated Cuba in the consolation match to take home the bronze medal.

After the Barcelona games, Ctvrtlik returned to Europe to play in the Italian professional league. He would return to once again join the U.S. national team in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Ctvrtlik is credited with improving the team's world ranking from 15th to 4th within a mere 10 months of his return. Ctvrtlik was again awarded the Best Player in the World honor in 1995 but the U.S. men's team would finish a disappointing 7th in the Atlanta Olympics.

Throughout his Olympic years, Ctvrtlik also maintained a highly successful beach career, being one of the top stars on the professional 4-man circuit. He also earned the coveted "AAA" beach rating on numerous occasions while playing on the two-man circuit.

As of early 2008, Ctvrtlik has maintained his status as a high-ranking member of the International Olympic Committee and businessman. He retired from Volleyball after the 1996 Olympic games, and resides with family in Southern California.

After volleyball

In 1996, Ctvrtlik was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athlete’s Commission and then re-elected for an eight-year term at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He was appointed to the IOC in 1999. He was a founding board member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and served on the IOC Reform Committee.

Ctvrtlik's business concerns include real estate rehabilitation projects as President of Green Street Properties, LLC in Huntington Beach, California, and import-exports, via his company, the Ciram Corporation.

Ctvrtlik is the third son of Josef Ctvrtlik (deceased) and Margaret Ctvrtlik. His brothers Jeffrey and David reside in the Long Beach area. Ctvrtlik and his wife, Cosette, along with his three children Josef (19), Erik (18) and Matthew (15), reside on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California. Both sons, Erik (15) and Josef (16) continue to play volleyball. Josef, on Corona del Mar's varsity team. Bob Ctvrtlik is an avid skier, basketball player and tennis player.

References

  1. ^ [1]

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