- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Hyden’s clock still ticking in Toronto
- Updated: September 14, 2016
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, September 14, 2016 – Even with the temptation to call a significant victory a triumph that turns back the clock, it really isn’t that way for John Hyden.
For the 43-year-old, defying age on the world’s biggest stages of Beach Volleyball means that clock is still ticking. And it won’t stop after the 2016 season.
What, does this guy enjoy the aches and pains and injuries and worldwide travel that his sport challenges him with?
Men’s Wednesday recaps
RECAP – Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins, Latvia vs. Grzegorz Fijalek/Mariusz Prudel, Poland
RECAP – Evandro Goncalves/Pedro Solberg, Brazil vs. Tri Bourne/John Hyden, United States
RECAP – Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt, Brazil vs. Adrian Carambula/Alex Ranghieri, Italy
RECAP – Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, United States vs. Josh Binstock/Sam Schachter, Canada
Well, not really. But Hyden’s career will reach its 17 th season next year, even if it looked like his last chance to qualify for the Olympics slipped by might have been a natural stopping point. But on he goes.
“I’m surprised I’m not more broken down than I could be, that’s for sure,” Hyden said with a smile. “I look forward to the offseason very much.”
With partner Tri Bourne, Hyden made a valiant run at a Rio 2016 spot but fell short of reaching the goal as fellow Americans Phil Dalhuasser/Nick Lucena and Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson edged them out.
But rather than take stock in his career, Hyden and Bourne built up enough qualifying points on the FIVB World Tour to reach the SWATCH World Tour Finals this week. And they validated their qualification Wednesday when they rallied to defeat Brazilian Olympians Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg in their first match, 19-21, 21-19, 15-12.
The rewards of reaching the World Tour Finals helped take the sting out of the Olympic miss after a long, grinding season. Perhaps someone his age surviving that was an Olympian feat in itself.
“It’s been a long season,” Hyden …
