Jordan Larson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jordan Larson
Larson in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Jordan Quinn Larson
Nickname	Governor
Born	(1986-10-16) October 16, 1986 (age 38) Fremont, Nebraska, U.S.
Hometown	Hooper, Nebraska, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Spike	119 in (302 cm)
Block	116 in (295 cm)
College(s)	University of Nebraska
Volleyball information
Position	Outside hitter
Current club	LOVB Omaha
Career
Years Teams 2009 2009–2014 2014–2019 2019–2022 2021 2022 2024–present Vaqueras de Bayamón Dynamo Kazan Eczacıbaşı VitrA Shanghai Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Vero Volley Monza LOVB Omaha
National team
2009–2024 United States
Medal record Women's volleyball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team Silver 2012 London Team Silver 2024 Paris Team Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team World Championship Gold 2014 Italy Team World Cup Silver 2011 Japan Team Silver 2019 Japan Team Bronze 2015 Japan Team World Grand Champions Cup Silver 2013 Japan Team Bronze 2017 Japan Team World Grand Prix Gold 2010 Ningbo Team Gold 2011 Macau Team Gold 2015 Omaha Team Silver 2016 Bangkok Team FIVB Nations League Gold 2018 Nanjing Team Gold 2019 Nanjing Team Gold 2021 Rimini Team

Jordan Quinn Larson (born October 16, 1986) is an American professional volleyball player. She plays as an outside hitter for the United States women's national volleyball team. Jordan is a four-time Olympian. She helped the USA win its first-ever gold medal in women's volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She also has two silver medals from the 2012 and 2024 Summer Olympics. Plus, she earned a bronze medal from the 2016 Summer Olympics.

With a career lasting over 15 years, Jordan Larson is seen as one of the best players in USA volleyball history.

Early Life and Starting Volleyball

Jordan Larson was born in Fremont, Nebraska. Her parents are Kae and Kevin Larson. When she was three, her parents separated. Jordan and her mom moved to Hooper to live with her stepfather, Pat Clough.

She started playing volleyball in eighth grade. In high school, she was named to the Super-State first team for three years. In 2003, she set a state record with 15.08 kills per game. She led her high school team, Logan View, to the state finals. As a senior in 2004, she set another record with 501 kills. Logan View reached the state semifinals that year. Jordan was named Nebraska Gatorade High School Player of the Year.

Jordan also played for the Nebraska Juniors club team. She was an All-American selection three times at the USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championship.

College Volleyball Career

Jordan Larson began her college volleyball journey at the University of Nebraska in 2005. In her first year, she was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Central Region Freshman of the Year. She also earned the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year award. She helped her team, the Huskers, finish second in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship.

In 2006, Jordan led the Huskers to win the national title. She was named to the AVCA All-America First Team. In 2007, she made the AVCA All-America Third Team. As a senior in 2008, she was again named to the AVCA All-America First Team. She was also chosen as the Big 12 Player of the Year. At the same time, she was the league's defensive player of the year. This was the first time a player won both awards in the same year. During her four years in college, Jordan had 1,600 kills and 1,410 digs.

Professional Volleyball Journey

Jordan Larson has played for many different clubs around the world. She started her professional career in Puerto Rico. Then, she joined the Russian team Dinamo Kazan. With Dinamo Kazan, she won gold at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship and the 2014 CEV Champions League.

After that, Jordan joined Eczacibasi in Turkey. She played with them until 2019. While at Eczacibasi, she won the World Championships in 2015 and 2016. She also earned a bronze medal in 2018. Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in both the continental and world competitions in 2015.

From 2019 to 2022, she played for Shanghai in China. In 2021, she played in the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball season. She became the very first champion of that league. In 2022, she played for Vero Volley Monza in Italy.

Jordan Larson is also a founding athlete for League One Volleyball (LOVB)'s new team in Omaha. This team started playing in November 2024.

Playing for the National Team

Jordan Larson joined the United States women's national team in 2009. With the national team, she has won many medals in big international competitions. These include gold medals at the FIVB World Grand Prix (in 2010, 2011, and 2015). She also won gold at the FIVB World Championship in 2014. And she has gold medals from the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (in 2018, 2019, and 2021). She became the team's captain in 2017.

Olympic Achievements

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Jordan won a silver medal with the United States team. The team was ranked number one in the world. They won all their games in the first round. However, they lost to Brazil in the gold medal match.

Jordan also played for the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Again, the team won all their games in the first round. But they lost to Serbia in the semi-finals. In the bronze medal match against the Netherlands, Jordan led her team to victory with 13 kills.

On June 7, 2021, the U.S. National Team coach, Karch Kiraly, announced that Jordan Larson would be on the Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She was the fifth oldest volleyball player in U.S. history to be named to an Olympic team. The team went on to win America's first-ever women's Olympic volleyball gold medal. Jordan scored the final point in their win against Brazil in the gold medal match.

Jordan had planned for the 2020 Olympics to be her last. However, she decided to return to playing in the spring of 2023. She was then named to the team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where the team earned a silver medal.

Coaching Career

In June 2023, Jordan Larson joined her old college, the University of Nebraska, as an Assistant Coach.

Personal Life

Jordan Larson graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2008. She earned a degree in communication studies.

Key Awards and Honors

Jordan Larson has received many awards throughout her career.

Individual Awards

• 2015: Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the CEV Champions League
• 2015: Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the FIVB Club World Championship
• 2020: Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the Summer Olympics
• 2020: Best Outside Hitter at the Summer Olympics

Team Awards (Clubs)

• 2014: Champion of the CEV Champions League with Dinamo Kazan
• 2014: Champion of the FIVB Club World Championship with Dinamo Kazan
• 2015: Champion of the CEV Champions League with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
• 2015: Champion of the FIVB Club World Championship with Eczacibasi VitrA
• 2016: Champion of the FIVB Club World Championship with Eczacibasi VitrA

Team Awards (National Team)

• 2010, 2011, 2015: Gold medals at the FIVB World Grand Prix
• 2011, 2013, 2015: Gold medals at the Women's NORCECA Volleyball Continental Championship
• 2012, 2024: Silver medals at the Summer Olympics
• 2014: Gold medal at the FIVB World Championship
• 2016: Bronze medal at the Summer Olympics
• 2018, 2019, 2021: Gold medals at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League
• 2020: Gold medal at the Summer Olympics