Athlete Spotlight: Kelly Cheng - Listen To The Olympics On iHeartRadio

If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA . To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.

Born as Kelly Marie Claes in 1995, Kelly Cheng is a name that resonates with excellence in the world of beach volleyball. Her journey began in Fullerton, California, where she followed in the footsteps of her father, a former collegiate baseball player. Her talent was evident early on, earning her recognition at El Dorado High School.

Cheng's journey to greatness continued at the University of Southern California (USC), where she teamed up with Sara Hughes . Their dominance on the sand became legendary, capturing a bronze medal at the U19 FIVB World Championships. Back at USC, they claimed back-to-back NCAA Championships for the USC Trojans in 2016 and 2017. Cheng's individual brilliance earned her the Pac-12 Player of the Year award twice, solidifying her status as a rising star in the sport.

Alongside Hughes, they became the youngest duo to win an AVP Gold Series event . Despite their eventual split, Cheng found a new partner in Sarah Sponcil . This dynamic partnership yielded back-to-back gold medals at the 2019 FIVB four-star events and, most importantly, a hard-fought ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.

In late 2022, Cheng and Hughes reunited and captured the World Tour Final title a year later. They went on to win the world championship together in October 2023. Cheng, now 28 years old, stands at 6-foot-2 and hails from Fullerton, California. She currently resides in Huntington Beach, California.

Cheng's personal life is as vibrant as her professional career. She is married to Jordan Cheng , a beach volleyball coach who has been coaching her since 2019. The couple started dating in 2020 and tied the knot in 2022.

As the Paris Olympics approach, Cheng is set to make her mark under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, vying for her first gold medal with Team USA. With a legacy of dominance and a world championship title under her belt, Cheng is a force to be reckoned with on the sands of the beach volleyball court.

From exclusive NBC play-by-play action of Team USA to live hourly updates from the Games to original Summer Games podcasts, you can listen to the Olympics stream only on iHeartRadio . Find out more about how to listen .