Tuesday, August 15, 2000
Beach Volleyball News Online

Reigning champion injured

Karch Kiraly, who with Kent Steffes, of the US, won the inaugural Olympic beach volleyball title in 1996, dislocated his shoulder at the Belgium Open this week and may not be able to defend his title in Sydney.

Kiraly and Adam Johnson won two matches on Wednesday but in the final point of their last game, Kiraly's shoulder gave way and the partners could not contest the final. The event was the last at which Americans may qualify for the Games.

Kiraly has now been injured twice in the past month: he suffered a groin strain on July 9 at Santa Barbara in California, which forced him to withdraw from world tour events in France and Portugal.