Mike Whitmarsh, AVP legend and Olympic beach volleyball silver medalist, died today in San Diego. He was 46.

Whitmarsh earned more than $1.6 million in his career, winning 28 titles, which placed him 9th on the all-time career earnings list. Prior to his illustrious beach volleyball career, the 6-foot-7 Whitmarsh played basketball for University of San Diego and led the Toreros to the NCAA tournament in 1984. After graduating from USD, Mike was drafted by the NBA Portland Trailblazers and  played briefly with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whitmarsh embarked on his volleyball career in 1990 where he earned AVP Rookie of the Year honors. In 1996 at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta,  Mike earned the silver medal with partner Mike Dodd at the first ever Olympic beach volleyball competition.

"We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Mike Whitmarsh, a true a beach volleyball legend and one of AVP’s all time greats,” said Leonard Armato, CEO and Commissioner of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. “Mike was gifted competitor, a crowd favorite, and one of the most well liked and respected players on the AVP Tour. His legacy will live on as a silver medalist in the first-ever Olympic beach volleyball competition as well as a great ambassador for the sport. The AVP family’s thoughts and prayers are with the Whitmarsh family during this tragic time.”