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 amazing American volleyball player. She is known as an outside hitter for the United States women's national volleyball team. Jordan is a four-time Olympian. She helped the USA team 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, and a bronze medal from the 2016 Summer Olympics. With a career lasting over 15 years, many people think Jordan Larson is one of the best USA volleyball players ever!

Jordan Larson's Early Life

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. She started playing volleyball when she was in eighth grade.

High School Volleyball

Jordan was a top player in high school. She was named to the Super-State first team for her last three seasons. In 2003, she set a state record with 15.08 kills per game. She led her team, Logan View High School (LVHS), to the state finals. In 2004, as a senior, she set another record with 501 kills. LVHS 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 player at the USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championship in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

While Jordan was in high school, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother passed away seven years later in 2009.

College Volleyball Career

Jordan Larson started playing college volleyball at the University of Nebraska in 2005.

Freshman Year Success

In her first year, she was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Central Region Freshman of the Year. She also won the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year award. She helped her team, the Huskers, finish second in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship.

National Title and Awards

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. Plus, 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 a total of 1,600 kills and 1,410 digs.

Professional Volleyball Career

Jordan Larson has played for many different volleyball clubs. She has played in Europe and North America.

Early Club Teams

She began her professional career in Puerto Rico. Then, she joined the Russian team Dinamo Kazan. With Dinamo Kazan, she won gold medals. These included the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship and the 2014 CEV Champions League.

Playing in Turkey and China

Next, Jordan joined Eczacibasi in Turkey. She played with this team 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.

LOVB Omaha

Jordan Larson is a founding athlete for League One Volleyball (LOVB). She will play for LOVB's new team in Omaha. This team is set to start playing in November 2024.

National Team Career

Jordan Larson joined the United States women's national volleyball team in 2009. With the national team, she has won many medals.

Major International Wins

She has earned gold medals at the FIVB World Grand Prix (in 2010, 2011, and 2015). She also won gold at the FIVB World Championship (2014). And she won gold at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (2018, 2019, 2021). Jordan became the team's captain in 2017.

Olympic Games

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Jordan won a silver medal with the USA 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 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 semifinals. In the bronze medal match against the Netherlands, Jordan led her team to victory. She scored 13 kills in that game.

On June 7, 2021, the U.S. National Team coach, Karch Kiraly, announced Jordan 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.

Jordan had planned for 2020 to be her last Olympics. But she decided to come out of retirement in spring 2023. She was then named to the team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

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.

Awards and Achievements

Jordan Larson has won many awards throughout her career. Here are some of her most important individual and team achievements:

Individual Awards

• 2014–15 CEV Champions League: Most Valuable Player (MVP)
• 2015 FIVB Club World Championship: Most Valuable Player (MVP)
• 2020 Summer Olympics: Most Valuable Player (MVP)
• 2020 Summer Olympics: Best Outside Hitter

Club Team Awards

• 2013–14 CEV Champions League: Gold medal with Dinamo Kazan
• 2014 FIVB Club World Championship: Gold medal with Dinamo Kazan
• 2014–15 CEV Champions League: Gold medal with Eczacibasi VitrA
• 2015 FIVB Club World Championship: Gold medal with Eczacibasi VitrA
• 2016 FIVB Club World Championship: Gold medal with Eczacibasi VitrA

College Awards

• Two-time First Team AVCA All-American (2006, 2008)
• 2008 Big 12 Player of the Year
• Two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2006, 2008)
• 2005 Big 12 Freshman of the Year

National Team Awards

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