For months, Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth would look at their phones and be sent into a state of disbelief. It was a reminder of something simultaneously amazing and unlikely.
It was a picture of the beach volleyball venue at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
"We played in Paris on the world tour the last two years … and Kristen and I looked at each other and were like, 'We want to be here in 2024,'" Kloth said. "And we worked so hard to get there."
As former LSU beach volleyball standouts, Nuss and Kloth's path to the Olympics was paved with challenges, from Kloth's transition from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which unexpectedly solidified their partnership.
"There's no other way to describe it than just an absolute dream come true,"Nuss' and Kloth's exceptional collegiate careers at LSU laid the foundation for their Olympic dreams. Kloth, who began her volleyball career as an indoor player at Creighton, made a bold transition to beach volleyball as a graduate transfer at LSU. Despite her initial apprehensions, Kloth found a perfect partner in Nuss, who was already a formidable player. Together, they achieved an impeccable 36-0 record in 2021, earning multiple accolades, including the prestigious American Volleyball Coaches Association Pair of the Year award.
"We wouldn't be going to the Olympics if it was not for the LSU beach volleyball program," Nuss said. "That's where we met. Thankfully, (Kloth) came and transferred to LSU. That's also where our coach was, who now works with us still. So literally our foundation was born there."
Kloth's transition to beach volleyball was anything but smooth. Moving from her home state of South Dakota to Louisiana, she faced the daunting task of learning a new sport from scratch. The initial experiences were humbling, with moments that tested her resolve. During her first competitive beach volleyball experience, she was embarrassed by teenage players.
"I got destroyed," Kloth laughed. "I couldn't score against them. I hit every ball into the net. I hit it out. I couldn't move. And that's when I was like, 'Alright, I might have to reevaluate my decision.' That was extremely humbling."
Even before she arrived in Baton Rouge, Kloth experienced hesitancy about continuing the sport. Fate, or stubbornness, kept her on the path forward, however.
"I just remember being in my car and crying my eyes out because I had made this commitment. I was going to move to Louisiana. I didn't know a single person. I didn't know how to play this sport. And for some reason I was just like, 'Yeah, let's do that,'" Kloth said.Despite the challenges, Kloth's determination and the unwavering support from her teammates and coaches helped her navigate the rough waters of this transition. Her resilience paid off as she gradually honed her skills, contributing significantly to the team's success.
The COVID-19 pandemic, while disruptive to their lives in many way, brought an unexpected opportunity for Nuss and Kloth. The abrupt end to the 2020 season — during which they were not partners on the sand — forced both players to return home, but it also gave them time to reflect and regroup. Kloth, frustrated with the isolation and eager to improve, reached out to see if she could join Nuss, a New Orleans native, in Louisiana to train. This impromptu decision forged a stronger bond between them.
"I don't know what gave me the idea that I could actually call her," Kloth said, laughing. "But we dumped all of our time and energy into trying to get as good as we could because we were going to come back to LSU and we wanted a national championship."
Their relentless training during the pandemic laid the groundwork for their professional partnership. Upon returning to LSU, they played together for a year, further solidifying their synergy on the court.
The transition from collegiate to professional beach volleyball came with its own set of challenges. The duo had to navigate the complexities of international tournaments and the intricacies of the Olympic qualification process. Starting without any international points, which are needed to qualify for the Olympics, and no prior international experience, Nuss and Kloth faced an uphill battle — straight uphill.
"We were nearly delusional because we had zero points and we were starting so late. We couldn't even get into tournaments. We had no idea what was going on," Kloth said.
Their perseverance paid off as they rapidly climbed the FIVB world rankings and are currently standing at No. 2. Significant victories, including defeating the 2021 Olympic silver medalists in Turkey, marked their journey to Paris. The moment they realized they qualified for the Olympics was a surreal experience, filled with disbelief and joy.
At a dinner with their coach, they were informed they had hit the minimum competition threshold to punch their tickets. Kloth and Nuss both counted multiple times before being told a tournament they thought didn't count toward that total actually did.
"We were like, 'Did he just say we qualified for the Olympics?' It was just like this oh-my-goodness moment," Nuss said.
As they prepared for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they are among the favorites to medal, Nuss and Kloth continued to train in Baton Rouge, staying connected to their roots. The unlikely duo, known as Team TKN, overcame adversity at several turns en route to their first Olympics. Their college experiences, they said, were catalysts in doing so.
"Thank goodness I relied on my teammates and my family to push through those tough times," Kloth said. "I wanted to stop playing at Creighton. I wanted to stop playing at LSU. I mean there are going to be ups and downs, but overall I am so happy that I finished out all of it. I never gave up. It really does teach you perseverance, and you do have to push through adversity. And there's going to be ups and downs, and you're going to be sick. And you have to play through it. It really teaches you so much."
"I think it just shapes who you are. It builds your character there. There are hard days, but also the hardest days are honestly the most memorable ones," Nuss added. "There's so many life lessons learned of just playing a sport in college and being on a team that you'll forever use in your everyday life, whether you're in the business world or still playing sport. No matter what, it just gives you life lessons that I greatly cherish to this day and will forever."
