Beach volleyball the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was founded. At the professional level, the sport remained fairly obscure until the 1980s when beach volleyball experienced a surge in popularity with high-profile players such as Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, and Karch Kiraly. Kiraly won an Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball in its first Olympic appearance in 1996, adding that to the two Olympic golds he won as part of the USA men's indoor team, and has won 142 titles. In the 1980s, the sport gained popularity on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1986, the
Annie Martin (beach volleyball) at the Université de Sherbrooke. Annie Martin (beach volleyball) Annie Martin (born 7 September 1981) is a Canadian female beach volleyball player. She has represented her country at the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Her current playing partner is Marie-Andrée Lessard. Martin was inspired to compete in beach volleyball after seeing Mark Heese and John Child compete for Canada at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She has won five Canadian titles, in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and in 2009. Martin and her partner, Guylaine Dumont, tied for fifth in the women's beach volleyball event at the 2004 Summer Olympics, after losing