COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 4, 2021) – The U.S. beach volleyball team of Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb has mathematically clinched a nomination to the Tokyo Olympic Games, held July 23-Aug. 8.
Crabb/Gibb earned their berth when Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena exited the ongoing four-star tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic, after pool play. The two pairs are currently tied in the Olympic Rankings with 7,040 points, but Crabb/Gibb would win a tiebreaker by virtue of accumulating more points during the Olympic Qualification process that started in 2018.
Since September 1, 2018, Crabb/Gibb have accumulated 9,300 total Olympic Ranking points in 19 tournaments, meaning they have more tournaments and more points than any other American men’s pair. According to FIVB guidelines, cumulative Olympic ranking points is the first tiebreaker used when determining whom to nominate for the Olympic Games. Crabb/Gibb and Dalhausser/Lucena’s 7,040 Olympic ranking points are determined by a team’s 12 highest finishes in Olympic qualifying tournaments. But Crabb/Gibb have more total points than Dalhausser/Lucena, which mathematically secures them one of two Olympic berths.
Crabb/Gibb finished in the top five at eight FIVB events during the qualification period, and they’ve medaled twice. They won a four-star in Chetamul, Mexico in 2019, and they took bronze in Doha earlier this year.
Tokyo will be Gibb’s fourth Olympic Games. He made his Olympic debut in 2008 with then-partner Sean Rosenthal. The duo also competed in London 2012, and Gibb partnered with Casey Patterson in Rio 2016. Gibb’s best Olympic finish is fifth, which he has reached twice.
Gibb, 45, will become the oldest volleyball Olympian, beach or indoor, in history.
Crabb, 29, will make his Olympic debut. He’s competed on the FIVB World Tour since 2015.
The race for the second and final men’s Olympic berth is still underway between Dalhausser/Lucena and Tri Bourne/Trevor Crabb. Dalhausser/Lucena are currently in position to qualify, but if Bourne/Crabb win the ongoing Ostrava tournament, they will earn the bid.
Alix Klineman/April Ross and Kelly Claes/Sarah Sponcil have clinched the United States’ two women’s Olympic berths.
The J&T Banka Ostrava Beach Open will conclude Sunday, June 6.