Eric "The Body" Fonoimoana struck Olympic Gold at
the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and has been a dominant and
consistent force on the AVP Tour for the past 16 years. He
won at least one tournament for seven straight years between
1998 and 2004.
2002
proved to be Eric's year to shine - he reached the finals
six times and won four titles with former partner Dax Holdren
and was also named AVP's Most Valuable Player.
In
2005 Fonoimoana reached the top 10 in terms of all-time tournaments
played, and is rapidly approaching the $1 million mark in
career earnings.
A
true community activist, Eric has dedicated much of his winnings
and time off the beach to his foundation "Dig for Kids"
which helps kids in inner cities excel in school and volleyball.
Eric
grew up in Manhattan Beach, California as the youngest of
three brothers, Kirk, Scott and Toa and two sisters, Debbie
and Lelei. Lelei was a swimmer in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Eric attended Mira Costa High School, the same school his
parents attended, where he started his volleyball career.
The volleyball team there now hands out an annual Eric Fonoimoana
Commitment Award. Fonoimoana continued to play at UC-Santa
Barbara where he was named MVP his senior year and graduated
with a degree in Sociology.
His
cousins, Al and Nick Hannemann, also played on the AVP Tour.
Fonoimoana currently resides in Hermosa Beach, California
with his wife Eliza and 2 year old son Tucker.
Favorite
Movie: Old School ... Favorite Band:
Black Eyed Peas... Favorite Show:
CSI... Role Model: Michael Jordan,
Tiger Woods Sponsors: O'Neill, Wilson,
Oakley, Nutrition Express... Favorite Meal:
Mexican
If
you weren't playing professional volleyball, what would you
be doing? Real
Estate
