Exclusive interview with Jordan Larson: US volleyball legend aims for back-to-back Olympic gold at Paris 2024
The three-time Olympic medallist, who led the USA to a historic title in Tokyo, re-joined the national team after coming close to retirement. Find out in our exclusive interview with her how she intends to juggle playing and coaching until her final Games.
Volleyball
The ‘Governor’ is back for one last dance.
When Jordan Larson led the USA volleyball team to their first Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020, it seemed like a fairy-tale ending for the Nebraskan.
The veteran outside hitter dropped to her knees, hands covering her face in tears, after hammering home the winning point in the gold-medal final against Brazil. That victory marked her personal hattrick of Olympic medals, following a bronze at Rio 2016 and a silver at London 2012.
Retirement appeared to be looming, but the Most Valuable Player of the last Games decided to extend her adventure in the sport, continuing her club career first in the People's Republic of China and then in Italy.
Last year, she was on the verge of ending her competitive career again when she took on the role as an assistant coach at the University of Texas. Ultimately, she chose to resume her playing journey with Vero Volley Milano where she came close to winning the national league after a hard-fought final.
“Last August, my life kind of took a little bit of a turn. And so I decided to kind of come back to the court, even though I felt like I was in a pretty good place where I thought I was going to retire,” the 36-year-old revealed in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com.
“I never actually said it and so I think I just kind of left all doors open because you just never know, I guess, what happens.”
Jordan Larson: My plan for Paris 2024
Initially, Larson contemplated starting a family with her husband – and volleyball collegiate coach – David Hunt, but - as she tweeted - “God has other plans”.
When her priorities shifted, a comeback to the national team was in the works again, until it was officially confirmed in May this year.
“I really wanted to keep playing deep down and when I got there (Vero Volley Milano), it just solidified how much I still love the game and can still get my body to play at a high level,” she admitted.
“I just really enjoyed it. And then the longer I was in the season, obviously the national team was still very much open again. I didn't really close that door either and I take a ton of pride in representing my country. I've done it for many years, obviously, and so it was a pretty easy choice to come back.”
The 2014 world champion was included by head coach Karch Kiraly in the extended roster for the Volleyball Nations League and she plans to play with the USA in the qualifying tournaments ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
She will need to balance playing and coaching for a while after assuming a new position as a full-time assistant coach with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. “I'm going to be coaching a little bit in the fall at my old university,” she said.
“So I'm playing with the national team all summer, and then I'm going to go back and help coach there, which will give me a good kind of time off, so I can have a kind of an off-season and then sign a half contract somewhere in January and push all the way through the Olympics, hopefully the summer next year.”
If she makes it to her fourth Olympics, Larson – who will be 37 years and 9 months old in July 2024 – has the opportunity to become the second-oldest female indoor volleyball player in Olympic history, following Danielle Scott-Arruda, who was 39 years and 10 months during London 2012.
Larson: What motivates me to continue
Larson admitted that the desire of repeating as Olympic champion was a big motivating factor in her decision.
The Soviet Union (1968-1972), Cuba (1992, 1996, 2000) and most recently Brazil (2008, 2012) have achieved this feat in Olympic history.
“I think not only doing it once, but doing it again, only solidifies all the work done from youth level all the way up through college and our national team. I think it’s what set the example and we’re continuing to push the edge and push the envelope to be the best we can be as a nation,” the 36-year-old said.
Regardless of the outcome in Paris, the American can already be regarded as one of the most accomplished players of her generation: “To be honest, I'm satisfied already,” she explained.
“I feel very lucky where I'm at and what I've been able to achieve, not only personally, but all the teams that I've been a part of. And I feel grateful every day that it's another chance that I get to wake up and play the sport that I love.
“And I really try to not take that for granted. I feel just really blessed. And I know that even if something were to happen, I think that I would be very proud and honoured to step away at any point. Knowing that, it's kind of a calming peace.”
NARITA, JAPAN - AUGUST 09: (LR) Foluke Akinradewo and Jordan Larson of Team United States Women's Volleyball pose for photographs with their gold medals at Narita international airport on August 09, 2021 in Narita, Japan. Although many athletes have already left Japan, large numbers are still departing along with their delegations following what was widely considered to be a successful Olympic Games held during the global coronavirus pandemic.
A born leader
Larson's innate leadership qualities are evident in her nickname 'The Governor', given to her by her friend and former teammate, Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson.
During a trip to Thailand, they met – by chance – a fan of Nebraska University who recognised Larson, their former team captain. In a playful exchange, Akinradewo's brother jokingly remarked, "Of course, she's the governor of Nebraska!" And from then the moniker stuck with her.
“Now it's turned from a joke to now being something as a very good nickname. So it's been fun,” the American volleyball star added with a smile.
“When I came out of college, I feel like I was mainly known for leading by example. And I think coming to the national team as a young kid, you have a lot to learn and you just observe their behaviour.
“And I've had really good captains before me and understanding how different people lead and then how I could still be true to myself and still with my own identity.”
Helping the new team blend and prepare for Paris has become a mission for the veteran, who believes she can contribute on various fronts:
“I think for me now, I almost feel this there's a little bit of a weight off me personally. And there's this freedom to just be really, really present and help where I can and kind of fill the gaps where I feel like I see.
“We always know what the goal is, but I think more about diving into the process and how we can get better every day.”
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: Head Coach Karch Kiraly of Team United States reacts with player Jordan Larson #10 as they compete against Team Brazil during the Women's Gold Medal Match on day sixteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on August 08, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Leading a renewed US team
The new US team is gearing up for the upcoming Games with a mix of youthful talent and seasoned experience.
Seven rookies, led by Khalia Lanier and Avery Skinner, have recently joined the VNL squad, alongside several young players like Kathryn Plummer and Lauren Carlini, who already featured in last year’s competition.
They will add depth to a squad, that boasts six Olympic champions: Larson, Annie Drews, Micha Hancock, Justine Wong-Orantes, Chiaka Ogbobu and Thompson Jordan.
“We have a lot of girls in the gym right now and a lot of youth, and I think there's going to be definitely some youth mixed in there and understanding that like we haven’t arrived yet,” Jordan said.
Some of the key players in Tokyo, Akinradewo Gunderson and Kimberly Hill, won’t be in Paris.
“We've lost a lot of pieces and that was a lot of experience, not just like playing wise, but like mental toughness and things like that. So understanding that we're going to have to make up in some areas and knowing that we have to rely on each other in order to do it, that's the mentality we've got to have.”
Larson has achieved a great deal in her career, yet she has managed to stay humble and true to her origins.
“I was just like a little girl from a small town, I never would have thought that volleyball would have taken me to places that I've had and the people that I've met. Really, I feel so grateful. And still can't believe it some days,” the Fremont, Nebraska, native admitted.
The three-time Olympic medallist also believes it’s not yet time to reflect on her accomplishments and that there’s more to give: “I try to sit back, but I also realised there’s this striving to always be better. Like I feel there's always something to learn.
“I really try to live that every day and never feel like I've fully arrived. And I think I have a great example in Karch, our head coach. He won a gold medal and pretty much everything and he's the most humble and selfless person you'll ever meet. And so I think having that example is huge. And continuing to lead in that way is really important.”