Group USA volleyball star TJ DeFalco has made his mark on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 27-year-old was nonetheless in highschool when he first joined the U.S. nationwide group in 2015. He beforehand skilled with volleyball legend Tyler Hildebrand, who in contrast DeFalco to one of many best athletes of all time: LeBron James.
“I noticed LeBron play in highschool,” Hildebrand instructed ESPN in 2012. “Clearly, LeBron is LeBron, and perhaps it’s not as huge a distinction, however the way in which TJ is so a lot better than different children his age jogs my memory of [him].”
On the time, Hildebrand added: “There’s no query that T.J. is the perfect volleyball participant within the nation for his age group. I don’t assume anybody would debate that.”
DeFalco was a high recruit as he headed into the NCAA. He performed school volleyball at California State College, Lengthy Seaside, profitable two NCAA Championships all through his 4 years on the group. Now, his abilities have impressed on the world stage on the Paris Olympics. (Group USA gained a bronze medal on Friday, August 9, defeating Italy.)
Kyle Ensing, Taylor Averill, Matt Anderson, Maxwell Holt, Torey DeFalco and Micah Christenson on the Group USA Welcome Expertise forward of the Olympic Video games on July 23, 2024 in Paris, France. Joe Scarnici/Getty Pictures for USOPC
“[Being in the Olympic Village] doesn’t actually hit you till it does, and then you definately’re like, ‘Holy cow. I’m within the village proper now, and there’s 45 totally different nations round me proper now and we’re all strolling to the cafeteria,’” DeFalco instructed KTLA in July shortly earlier than the Video games kicked off. “There’s no different timeframe on Earth the place you’ll be able to be capable to try this. It’s actually particular and I’m enthusiastic about it.”
He was additionally wanting ahead to reworking the fame of volleyball, which he known as “form of a sleeper sport.”
“When individuals lastly watch it for the primary time, [the reaction is], ‘Holy cow, why are extra individuals not watching this type of factor?’” he mentioned. “I’d simply need to say to the viewers that when you guys have time, you don’t have something to look at or your favourite sports activities aren’t taking part in, give males’s volleyball a attempt.”
Scroll all the way down to study extra about Group USA’s TJ DeFalco:
He Comes From a Huge Household
DeFalco is considered one of seven siblings. Based on his Group USA bio, all the children in his household have names that begin with “T” and are all concerned in volleyball. The DeFalcos grew up in Missouri earlier than transferring to Huntington Seaside, California.
“It was type of just like the film We Purchased a Zoo,” the athlete instructed ESPN in 2012 of his Missouri roots, the place his household raised unique animals.
He Was Homeschooled
Although he performed volleyball for Huntington Seaside Excessive College in California after his household’s transfer, DeFalco and his siblings have been all homeschooled college students.
Paris Isn’t His First Olympics
DeFalco beforehand competed within the 2020 Tokyo Video games, however Group USA didn’t come near medal competition on the time. “We’ve bought to have just a little little bit of canine in us,” DeFalco instructed VolleyballMag.com forward of the Paris Olympics.
Is TJ DeFalco Single?
Whereas exhibiting off a few of his Group USA Skims gear in a July TikTok, DeFalco hinted that his girlfriend — who he didn’t reference by identify — is a fan of the model. Earlier than heading to Paris, he shared “some non-volleyball content material” together with his Instagram followers, together with a pic of the couple on a ship.
He’s Performed Professional Volleyball Abroad
When he’s not representing Group USA, DeFalco is an out of doors hitter for the JTEKT Stings in Japan. His professional profession started in Italy in 2019 earlier than he moved to Poland, the place he performed from 2021 to 2024.
