Former UCLA volleyball player who survived a shark bite aims for the 2028 Olympics

From Shark Bites to Olympic Dreams

Hagen Smith, who hails from Pacific Palisades and used to set for the UCLA volleyball team, shared with the California Post last week that he’s on a mission to add something significant to his resume.

About 15 years ago, when he was just 15 and at Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles after a volleyball tournament, he had an unexpected encounter with a sea creature.

Initially, Smith thought he had been stung by a stingray, but after making his way to a nearby lifeguard tower, he saw blood everywhere and realized it was something far worse that had bitten him.

“I got sliced open,” he recalled, adding that he was bitten on his entire toe and part of his foot.

Smith required about 20 to 30 stitches to mend the injury, and though it was a tough experience, he fully recovered.

A few years after the incident, he became a standout player for the Bruins and continued to gain recognition in the AVP after graduation.

Now, he’s aiming for his next big goal, which is competing in the Olympics.

“For the last two decades, it’s been the pinnacle of beach volleyball,” the 31-year-old stated.

The Olympics hold special significance for Smith, particularly because his father, Sinjin Smith, a legendary figure in UCLA volleyball, represented the U.S. in the 1996 Olympics.

With the games set to occur near his home in Long Beach in 2028, his motivation to join the U.S. team has only intensified.

“It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember,” Hagen shared. “Given my dad’s legacy and what he contributed to the sport, competing in my first Olympics has always been a goal.”

As one of AVP’s rising stars, Smith knows there are a few different paths to making the U.S. roster, but most involve accumulating wins on the international circuit in the coming years.

“We still have a long road ahead,” he said, adding, “But that’s definitely the ultimate goal.”

He hasn’t partnered with anyone yet for the Olympics but is hopeful to find a teammate soon. This weekend, he and other professional volleyball players might be playing at the very venue where beach volleyball will be hosted during the 2028 Games.

While the AVP league officially makes its stop at Alamitos Beach, Smith mentioned that his immediate focus is to secure wins with the Los Angeles Launch team, but the Olympics are always in the back of his mind.