Bob Samuelson | |||||
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Personal information | |||||
Born | Robert Lewis Samuelson July 30, 1973 (age 51) Port Jefferson, New York, U.S. | ||||
Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||||
College / University | California State University, Northridge | ||||
Volleyball information | |||||
Position | Outside hitter | ||||
Number | 9 (national team) | ||||
Career | |||||
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National team | |||||
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Medal record |
Robert Lewis Samuelson (born July 30, 1966) [1] is an American former volleyball player. Samuelson won a bronze medal with the United States national team in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. [2] [3]
At the Barcelona Olympics, Samuelson was the central character in the controversial preliminary round match against Japan in which the United States won until the result was overturned on appeal. [4] A jury set up by the International Volleyball Federation ruled that by Samuelson having received his second yellow card, a red card and an automatic point to Japan should have been given, thus giving Japan the point they needed to win the match. [4] The entire United States men's team then shaved their heads in solidarity with Samuelson. [4]
After finishing high school at Westchester High School in Westchester, Los Angeles, Samuelson played volleyball for Los Angeles Pierce College, leading the team to the state title in 1986. [5] He was also selected as California's junior college player of the year. [5]
Samuelson then played college volleyball at Cal State Northridge (CSUN), where he was a two-time All-American. [6] He set the school record with 44 kills in a match against George Mason in 1989. [7]
Samuelson was inducted into the CSUN Hall of Fame in 1994. [6]
Samuelson left the national team to compete for the Suntory Sunbirds of the Japanese V.League in 1994, where he played for three seasons. [1] Samuelson led the team to the championship in his first season, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player. [1]
Samuelson briefly played beach volleyball in 1994, and then again between 2004 and 2006. [8]
Samuelson is a father of triplet boys. [8]