Centennial graduate succeeds in sports
Most of Centennial’s sports teams already finished their seasons, but for some of our athletes it’s the last time they will play in an organized game of the sport they love.
The majority of our athletes go on to earn a living in their field of study and not the field they play on. However, John Child, a Centennial College graduate, went on to become a professional beach volleyball player. He began playing beach volleyball at the age of 16 and a few years later and he was one of the best players in the world.
Beach volleyball made its Olympic debut in 1996 at the 100th Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. This is where Child and his teammate Mark Heese earned a bronze medal for Canada. They easily handled Portugal’s team in two straight sets to finish in third place. The pair also went on to tie for 5th place in both the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia and the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece.
The duo earned the nickname ‘The Crazy Defenders’ and were known for their spectacular comebacks. With both Child and Heese standing just over six-feet-tall, they were relatively short compared to most of their opponents but made up for this with superior passing and smart play.
Child currently resides in Toronto where he was born and raised. He was once even featured in the Toronto Sun as a SUNshine boy.
Child retired shortly after the 2004 Olympics but still stays close to the game by getting involved with teams such the Durham Attack Volleyball Club. He has helped teach and develop talent so that our country can continue the legacy of success in the sport that he helped etch out.
