Volleyball legend, 4-time Olympian Jordan Larson aims to uplift next generation

Jordan Larson, a name synonymous with excellence in women's indoor volleyball, is set to make history once again, as she was named to the Team USA squad for the Paris Olympics.

Now a four-time Olympian, Larson has a drive to compete that is fueled by more than etching her name in the record books. The former Nebraska star also aims to nurture the next generation of volleyball players.

"How I can help impact the next generation coming into USA volleyball has really been my goal, and what I'm excited about," said Larson, who will become the second-oldest U.S. Olympic female indoor volleyball player ever, after program record five-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda.

A decorated outside hitter, Larson played a pivotal role in helping Team USA secure its first  Olympic gold medal in indoor women's volleyball in Tokyo — her third Olympic medal. At the time, Larson thought it might be her last Olympic volleyball match but didn't ever completely close the door. Her love for the game wouldn't let her.

After the Tokyo Olympics, she played a professional season in Italy, where she rediscovered her passion for volleyball. This period of reflection and rejuvenation helped her realize that she still had more to give to the sport. Her continued involvement is driven by a sense of peace and enjoyment, knowing she can contribute both on and off the court.

"When you've been striving for so long to win gold … and then to finally reach that mountaintop, there's this sense of peace internally. I know the way now, and I get to just truly enjoy the process," Larson said. "I think I've been at peace with it. It's that full-circle moment where I'm just enjoying it."

Growing up in Nebraska, where volleyball is a celebrated sport, significantly influenced Larson. Playing in front of sold-out crowds at Nebraska, where she was a two-time first team All-American and led her team to an NCAA championship in 2006, prepared her for a decorated international career. The intense atmosphere of college volleyball in the state provided a valuable training ground.

"That platform alone helped me understand what it was like to play on the biggest stage," she said.

Larson's desire to pay the game back led her back to Nebraska, where she served as an assistant coach in 2023. The opportunity was exactly what she wanted and more.

"The sport has given me so much. When I think about the most impactful people in my life, it has been coaches. Now I can share everything that's been shared with me," Larson said, particularly inspired by the ability to help younger players. "Coaching is problem-solving. How can I help these athletes figure out their path to success? And it's not going to look like mine, which makes it even cooler. You guys can have a different journey, and it can be unique to you. How can I help you achieve that? Just being a small part of that process is huge."

One of Larson's most vivid memories of hard work and perseverance comes from her college days. One grueling summer conditioning session included a challenging bear crawl exercise, which her younger self tried to shortcut.

"I didn't do as many as I should, and I remember a teammate at that time kind of holding me accountable," Larson recalled. "I still hold on to that to this day. As much as your mind wants to go, 'Oh, it's enough,' if you want to be at the top, even on days that you don't want to do it, you have to push past this threshold.

"I feel like that example back in college set a foundation for me of 'if I want to move forward and I have these dreams, I have to show up on days that I don't want to show up.'"

Larson's coaching opportunity also put gave her a unique perspective into the rapid growth of popularity around women's sports, including college volleyball. While she couldn't attend "Volleyball Day in Nebraska" — when 92,003 Husker fans packed Memorial Stadium to break a world record for a women's sporting event — she was on the sidelines for Nebraska's run to the NCAA title match in Tampa, Florida. There, the title match broke the all-time collegiate volleyball attendance record for an indoor venue with 19,727 fans attending. The championship match — the first NCAA volleyball championship to be broadcast on ABC — set a TV viewership record for the sport, averaging 1.7 million viewers.  

For Larson, she thinks it's only the beginning for women's volleyball. The recent announcement of multiple professional volleyball leagues in the U.S. is yet another sign that the sport is about to take off across her home country.

"I only see our sport continuing to evolve," said Larson, who plans to play for the Omaha franchise in League One Volleyball in 2025. "I'm just really grateful now seeing all these professional leagues pop up that people are willing to invest in us. It's really, really exciting to be part of."

It's also a reminder of why she stays in the sport: to help the next generation. At youth camps, she's reminded of how far the game has come. Those moments add to the inner peace and joy she's found.

"I wanted to be a pro, and I didn't know what that path looked like. I wanted to be an Olympian. I didn't realize I had to go play overseas," Larson said. "The fact that you get to now stay home and have opportunities to be at home is huge for our sport and our country. I think it's only going to be on the rise still. So I'm just really, really fortunate to be a small piece of that."