Today we’d like to introduce you to Tory.
Hi Tory, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Tory Paranagua! I was born in Brazil where I lived until I was 11, then moved to Austin, Texas. I grew up playing sports and knew early on that would become an important part of my life. I started with Tennis and Soccer, then moved to swimming and volleyball, and last but not least, I fell in love with beach volleyball. I played throughout High School, and when beach volleyball officially became an NCAA sport, I was the first person to receive a scholarship from Texas. I played at Florida State University for four years and together with my team, received second place in the country twice. I had an incredible college experience and wouldn’t change it for the world. I received my bachelors degree in Sport Management and Communications, but didn’t work in the area opting to play professionally instead.
I have been playing professionally for the last 8 years, and the sport has taken me all over the world, which has been a dream. Most professional players move to California (the mecca of beach volleyball) to live and train, but I always wanted to do things differently, and represent Texas in any way that I could. I live and train here in Austin, where I also have the privilege of coaching the next generation of Texas beach volleyball players. I never thought I would become a coach, but I love showing my athletes that they can do hard things and become the best version of themselves through sport.
Since my commitment to play in college in 2014, Texas has produced hundreds of amazing NCAA beach volleyball players, and I am so proud to be a part of that history.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As any professional athlete can tell you, it’s a hard journey. The largest obstacle for me now is securing enough sponsorships to offset the costs of travel and competition. Beach volleyball is a very independent sport, there is no team manager that organizes everything for you. Athletes are both the management and the team, which can be difficult. Finding sponsors, signing up for events, scheduling practices, hiring coaches, and making travel arrangements are just some of the responsibilities. I am in constant pursuit of local sponsors that align with my values so I can continue to do what I love at the world stage.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Professional Beach Volleyball Player, beach volleyball coach, and freelance videographer/content creator.
I am most proud of chasing multiple dreams at once and showing the athletes I coach first hand that they can do anything they set their minds to!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the National Beach Volleyball Tour is going to undergo extensive changes in the next 5-10 years that will pave the way for future athletes to be able to pursue this career full time! That is my dream for this sport. Right now all the professional beach volleyball players in the US work other jobs and do their best to balance it all. It’s not ideal, but its our current reality, however, I am optimistic that things will change for the better soon.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @toryparanagua @quicksandtraining
