Tosh Show My Favorite Beach Volleyball Olympian - Phil Dalhausser
Nov 11, 2025
Phil Dalhausser, an Olympic gold medalist and UCF alumnus, shares his journey from starting beach volleyball at 17 to winning gold in Beijing. He reflects on the emotional highs of victory and the challenges of partnerships and injuries throughout his career. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of the sport, including scoring changes and growing TV exposure. Phil also shares personal anecdotes about ghosts, his hobbies like disc golf, and the balance between family life and an athletic career.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Gold Medal Moment In Beijing
- Phil Dalhausser recounts winning Olympic beach volleyball gold in Beijing and beating a disliked Brazilian player decisively in the final.
- He describes standing on the podium as especially satisfying because his opponent was visibly upset.
Sand Amplifies Athletic Demands
- Dalhausser argues beach volleyball demands every athletic skill because you play on unstable sand with wind and sun factors.
- He implies that the sport's conditions make its athletes among the most well-conditioned.
Play Early To Keep Momentum
- Dalhausser prefers morning matches to avoid long idle waits and recommends scheduling to play early and get it over with.
- He says two matches (e.g., 9AM and 1PM) keep momentum and reduce stress from waiting to play.