Volleyball Star Jordan Larson in Workout Gear Poses With Snoop Dogg

Team USA volleyball star Jordan Larson just started her Olympic journey off on a high point. Larson, 37, shared a picture of herself wearing black leggings and a “USA” shirt, beaming as she posed next to Snoop Dogg, who was dressed in head-to-toe white Olympic gear. “Snoop!! 🇺🇸🤍” she captioned the post. Larson is a veteran volleyball player and coach and shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s what her approach to the game looks like.

1. Will and Determination

Larson sees working out and gym sessions as part of her work. “It’s interesting this power of will and determination,” she told Volleyball Mag. “I know what we do in our gym is hard at any age. For me, it’s knowing that being in the gym every day brings out the best in me. It’s leaning into this and willing myself to do things I don’t want to do some days. That’s what makes it more beautiful on the other end.”

2. Always Evolving

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Larson welcomes the changes to training and competing. “Everything can’t stay the same because you’re evolving, the game’s evolving, people around you are evolving,” she told Volleyball Mag. “We’re getting more technology as far as jump counts and player load and all these things. There’s just more to know. I feel like if I were to stay the same that would not be a good thing.”

3. Love for Italy

If Larson were to move to any of the places she has visited, she says it would be Italy for the sense of community. “I get why people want to go there,” she told Lincoln Journal Star. “Just the way of life and how slow it is and how they do things. They really enjoy life. When they go out to dinners it feels like a family and there is a lot of community there, which was a cool experience to have. But also I think Turkey was very special as well.”

4. Coach Larson

Larson is coaching as well as playing. “I'm coaching in Nebraska, which has been really fun to kind of go back and just see now what they have access to and where it's come, which is really cool,” she told NBC Olympics. “I think for me, the sport has given me so much. And when I think, the most impactful people in my life has been coaches. And now I can share everything that's been shared with me…And now how can I help [the athlete] achieve that, just being a small part of that process is huge.”

5. Make That Money

Larson is glad female athletes have more opportunities to make money these days. “I think a lot has changed,” she told Lincoln Journal Star. “I think the athletes are fantastic. I think our (college) system, as far as the ability to get an education and be an athlete at the same time, is great. And now I think with NIL (name, image, likeness) there are just a lot of other opportunities that are available for females.”

Volleyball star Kristen Nuss is a proud member of Team USA, and ready for Paris 2024. Nuss, 26, shared a sweet video of friends and family wishing her and Taryn Kloth the best of luck, with the athlete appearing in a variety of different workout outfits in the clips. “Who’s cutting the onions 🥹 Forever grateful for our incredible support system. We love you all from the bottom of our hearts and can’t wait to represent @teamusa at the pinnacle of this sport on center stage. Let’s get this thing started!” reads the caption on the post. Here’s how Nuss stays strong, fit and ready to compete.

1. Walking and Training

Nuss loves nothing better than going for a walk for a non-volleyball related workout. Otherwise, she is constantly training with her coach. “You want practice to be harder than the game itself,” she told Mind Body Green. “That's where the resilience gets built—in those practice moments when you're in a really hard drill, he's just crushing balls at you, then you're having to do some sort of serve receive and constantly just execute. You get to the point where your brain is like, Go, go, go—but your legs are dying and just stop working.”

2. Louisiana Home

While most volleyball players are based in California, Nuss and Kloth live and train in Louisiana. “I want to rewrite the script,” she told AVP. “No – you don’t have to live in California. No – you don’t have to be mega tall. Of course, we’ll go to Cali to train with other pros. But I have no intention of moving to California in my career. I want this sport to grow all over the country. With a partner from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that feels possible.”

3. Peanut Butter and Jelly

Nuss enjoys a sandwich to fuel her performance. “Honestly, before a big game—and especially depending on when we play—a good ol' peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” she told Mind Body Green. “That is a solid pregame. It's the perfect snack to give you the energy and carbs that you need. We [Kloth and I] eat them a lot when we travel. Day to day, I follow a high-protein diet. It's just about eating a ton of protein in every meal that we get. I personally love doing higher protein, lower calorie, and a lot of quantity because I am someone who enjoys that feeling of fullness.”

4. Repping the Shorties

Nuss is 5 feet 6 inches tall, and wants to inspire other aspiring athletes who are on the shorter side for volleyball. “ When I was coming up in the sport, no one looked like me,” she told AVP. “I wanted to change that. I wanted to provide the shorter kids with someone they could look up to. The desire to inspire is what motivates me the most to keep striving for success. People aren’t coming up on the street and outright telling me, ‘You will never accomplish your goals.’ But now, being partners with 6 feet 4 inches Taryn Kloth, everyone comes up to her. They ask how tall she is, and insist she must play a sport. No one is saying that to me.”

5. Competition Prep

Nuss prepares for a game by listening to music and relaxing. “My approach may be different than most,” she told Mind Body Green. “I have found over the years that if I get super focused and ‘locked in’ that I actually don't perform well. So I try to be a little more laid back. So, in warm-ups, I just try to keep it fun and relaxed. You can find me jamming out to whatever song is playing in my head. Chatting with our coaches. I'm not super focused—keeping it very light. It's just having fun. Because, honestly, that is what I find I need to perform my best.”

Lacrosse champion Alex Aust is sharing throwback summer bikini pictures to herald the approach of the colder months. Aust, who is a Team USA gold medalist, posted a snap of herself wearing a tiny bikini while posing in the surf at the beach, looking fit and sunkissed. “When AA reminds you she creates magic,” Aust commented about famed photographer Alex Ashman. So how does she do it? Here are 5 ways Aust stays fit, strong, and happy.

1. HIIT Workouts

Aust is a big fan of HIIT workouts, and shares her routines online. “HIIT can help to decrease body fat, increase strength and endurance, and improve health outcomes, but it is not necessarily better than other exercise formats,” say the experts at Harvard Health. “Its main appeal is that it can achieve similar fitness and health benefits in a shorter duration, and that it includes periods of rest.”

2. Say No To the Scales

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Aust refuses to weigh herself, instead focusing on her strength and energy. “As athletes, we don’t have that stick-thin body type, but at the end of the day, our bodies are our vehicles,” says Nicole Aust, Alex’s sister and former Maryland Lacrosse teammate. “If Alex’s body is skinny and small, it’s not going to perform the way she wants it to on the field and she’s learned to cherish that.”

3. Professional Trainer

Aust developed at-home workout The Sweaat Life to continue working out during the pandemic lockdowns. “All of the things that I am involved with, I think back to my training at Maryland, hearing Cathy’s [Reese] voice in the back of my head, telling me to believe in myself,” she says. “That definitely is something that I constantly reflect back on when I do something or I put myself out there for another goal I am trying to reach.”

4. Sports Illustrated Model

Aust was emotional about her photoshoot for Sports Illustrated, as she worked incredibly hard to make it happen. “I felt every emotion I had in the past eight months,” she says about seeing the pictures for the first time. “Working my butt off to be the best version of myself. I saw that in a moment. I never realized a photo of yourself could be that powerful.”

5. She’s a Role Model

Being a role model for young female athletes is something Aust takes seriously and is proud of. “What’s more important than actually playing, though, is being able to reach these young female lacrosse fans,” she says. “That’s my biggest thing. To me, it’s super important that we have the visibility of the WPLL and have it on ESPN3, so that the girls on my club team can watch us play and see these high level athletes and hopefully in 15 years see them on these teams, which would be really, really cool.”

Soccer star Abby Dahlkemper is a proud partner with Adidas—so of course she had to show off some of her favorite workout outfits from the brand. The San Diego Wave FC defender, 30, shared pictures of herself dressed head to toe in a black and white Adidas tracksuit, her blonde hair pulled back into a low bun. “Daily coffee run,” she captioned the post. “Sue Sylvester vibes 🔥,” a fan commented, referring to Jane Lynch’s character on Glee. Here’s what makes Dahlkemper feel happy and on top of her game.

1. Fresh Air Workouts

Dahlkemper loves working out outdoors. “I like being out in nature, hiking and walking around outside,” she told Manchester City FC. “I think it’s therapeutic for me. It’s very calming and something I really enjoy. It helps me mentally to take a pause from the stresses of life, being a footballer with its ups and downs. I relish my time outside, experiencing different things. I’ve been lucky enough to travel as well, which is something I really enjoy.”

2. Volunteering For Rescue Dogs

Dahlkemper is passionate about animal rights and volunteers with San Diego dog rescue The Animal Pad. “I love volunteering with The Animal Pad and helping them anyway I can. As one of the 2023 @nationwide Community Impact Award Ambassadors, this season I had the opportunity to raise even more awareness for this amazing organization. So glad to have been part of this platform and hope to keep spreading the word for these loving dogs,” she captioned an Instagram post.

3. Enjoy the Process

Dahlkemper has a sensible philosophy when it comes to her game. “Things off the field affect stuff on the field,” she told The Equalizer. “Being happy and comfortable off the field, at home directly correlates to your happiness, your confidence, your joy on the field. All of those things affect performance. At the end of the day, performance is key at this level. It’s professional sports. It’s tough, it’s hard. I think finding joy in hard things is important as well, and I think maybe in the past I didn’t really realize that. Enjoy the process, enjoy the difficult times as well as the good times.”

4. Inspired By Her Mom

Dahlkemper is inspired by her mother, who played basketball in high school. “It’s really cool and inspiring. I love hearing my mom talk about that,” she told US Soccer. “You can still hear the passion and love for the game of basketball. She ended up quitting before college level and said - with a tear in her eye - that it’s her one biggest regret: that when she was faced with adversity, she gave into it. She didn’t have the equal opportunity as I have today with women’s sport. She is proud that I faced adversity but kept marching on and pursuing my dreams. I see myself in my mother and I’m so thankful and proud to have these values instilled in me: being mentally tough, independent and kind.”

5. Adidas Partner

Dahlkemper is thrilled to partner with Adidas. “I was obviously looking for new representation and wanted to find a brand that aligns with my core values,” she told Uproxx Sports. “I value relationships a lot and I want to feel — I mean, who doesn’t want to feel wanted — but I really wanted to feel wanted and cherished and I felt like adidas was the perfect fit. Right from the bat we got along great and they made me feel so welcome and I’m just so honored and humbled to represent such an amazing, globally-recognized brand.”