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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.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 17, 2019) – The USA Volleyball beach team of Jake Gibb/Taylor Crabb took the gold medal and Tri Bourne/Trevor Crabb won bronze on Sunday at the FIVB World Tour four-star event in Chetumal, Mexico.

Gibb/Taylor Crabb won their first medal as a team on the FIVB World Tour and took another step toward Olympic qualification with the victory. The pair defeated Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands 21-16, 16-21, 15-12 in the men’s final.

“It feels amazing,” Taylor Crabb told the FIVB. “We battled so hard for the last three years and to get this on the last tournament in the year especially in an Olympic qualifying year and I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone other than Jake.”

Gibb/Taylor Crabb are now Olympic eligible after completing their 12th event. They won 800 points toward Olympic qualifying along with $20,000.

“The Olympic race is crazy, but right now this is a four-star event, a huge event,” said Gibb, 43, who became the oldest athlete ever to win an FIVB gold medal. “We’re No. 1 in the world today, we’re going to enjoy that. We’re just so blessed at USA Volleyball and just couldn’t be happier bringing home gold.”

Bourne/Trevor Crabb also made the podium after defeating Sven Winter/Alexander Walkenhorst from Germany 21-16, 21-12 in the bronze-medal match.

“It means a lot to end the year like this,” Bourne told the FIVB. “The hardest thing to finish the season when the end is so close is to keep up the energy and we showed a lot of heart, that’s what our team is all about.”

“It’s awesome, we’re both getting our first four-star medals or above at the same time so yeah it’s pretty special,” Trevor Crabb said, reacting to Taylor also making the podium.

Highest finishes on the women’s side for the United States were Sarah Sponcil/Kelly Claes and Brooke Sweat/Kerri Walsh Jennings. Both teams tied for fifth.

FINAL U.S. RESULTS FROM CHETUMAL

Women
1 Clancy/Artacho Del Solar AUS
2 Wang/X. Y. XIA CHN
3 Meppelink/Keizer NED
5T Sweat/Walsh Jennings USA
5T Claes/Sponcil USA
9T Flint/Day USA

Men
1 Gibb/Ta. Crabb
2 Brouwer/Meeuwsen NED
3 Bourne/Tr. Crabb USA
9T Kolinske/Hyden USA
9T Allen/Slick USA

Tri Bourne

TOKYO (July 22, 2021) – USA Volleyball learned today that Taylor Crabb, a member of the U.S. Olympic Beach Volleyball Team, has been replaced in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by Tri Bourne due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Crabb was scheduled to compete in his first match on July 25 with partner Jake Gibb.

“After taking every precaution, getting vaccinated and following protocols, I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Crabb said in a statement on his Instagram page. “I’m symptom-free, thankfully, but deeply disappointed to not be able to join Jake on the sand and compete as a member of Team USA. I’ve faced adversity before, and I will face it again, but it doesn’t take the sting out of the situation.”

Crabb and Gibb earned an Olympic berth by finishing in the top 15 of the FIVB’s provisional Olympic rankings. Crabb and Gibb are the No. 1 U.S. team and fourth overall in the FIVB world rankings. They earned two medals on the FIVB World Tour during the qualification period, including gold at the 2019 Chetumal four-star and bronze at this year’s Doha four-star.

“I have learned so much from Jake and [coach Rich Lambourne] in the five years we’ve been playing together as a team … That’s where this hurts the most. I want Jake to play in his fourth Olympic Games, and I want him to bring home a medal.”

Bourne was added to the roster on Thursday via the FIVB’s replacement-player protocol. Bourne and partner Trevor Crabb – Taylor’s brother – finished 14th in the provisional Olympic rankings but did not earn a berth due to a limit of two qualified teams per country.

Bourne has played on the international tour since 2014 save for time off 2017-18 to deal with a chronic autoimmune disorder.

“It’s truly disappointing to hear that my dear friend will not be playing in the Tokyo Games,” Bourne said. “Taylor is one of the world’s best and he earned this Olympic spot. He texted me to tell me the news and genuinely wished me the best of luck. As you can see from the statement he released on his Instagram, he’s a class act. I’m very honored to be filling in for him and what he represents: his team, family friends and community back home.

“That being said, I’m ready for this moment. I believe it to my core. Taylor always says, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,’ and that’s just what I’ve done. Jake Gibb, let’s ball!”

Gibb and Bourne will begin their Olympic schedule on Sunday, July 25 at 10 p.m. in Japan (6 a.m. Pacific) against Italy’s Enrico Rossi and Adrian Ignacio Carambula Raurich.

“While there is no question that I’m devastated not to be competing, I’ve now taken on a new role – supporting my new team: Rich, Jake and Tri,” Crabb said. “I want to send positive vibes and negative test results to all athletes here in Tokyo – stay healthy and enjoy every moment.”

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