Stein Metzger has been extraordinary for a long time.

The 2004 Olympic qualifier’s runs in college at UCLA and on the pro beach circuit speak for themselves.

Even when he was growing up in Hawaii, Metzger made the extra effort.
As a student at Punahou High School, Metzger used to drive his car to the windward side of the island—a 30-minute trek (which he says in Hawaiian time seems like 2 hours)—to pick up a friend of his.

His pal, almost two years his junior, was current beach partner Mike Lambert.
“He’s a really loyal friend,” said Lambert. “He lived in Manoa and I was in Kaneohe. I had to drive everywhere. I always had to take the bus if I wanted to get to Punahou, which was considered town. Stein was the first guy to pick me up. He drove all the way to my house and back. It was the coolest thing.”

These days the coolest thing for the 35-year-old Metzger would be getting back to the Olympics with his childhood friend. Metzger and Lambert will battle it out the next four months with the team of Jake Gibb (Metzger’s former partner) and Sean Rosenthal for that potential second U.S. men’s berth in the 24-team field in Beijing.

“I’m definitely motivated,” said Metzger, who was part of three NCAA championship teams at UCLA and was named the 1996 tournament most outstanding player. “When Dax (Holdren) and I made it in 2004, we weren’t the ideal team. With the smaller court, you need a good-sized defender and a monster blocker. We had to make do and we made a good run at it. Now we’ve got the monster at the net and that gives us a much better chance. Now we have to get there and we’re going to have to beat Jake and Rosie and that’s not an easy task.”

But Metzger wouldn’t have it any other way.

“At our level, a lot of players hate to lose and love to compete,” said Metzger, who ranks in the top 30 in career men’s wins and earnings. “When it comes game time, everybody has that burning desire inside to compete as hard as possible to win.”

And with Metzger that flame burns about as hot as it can get.

“He’s feisty and he loves to compete. He wants to win,” said Lambert. “When he’s out there playing like that with a big heart, that’s when Stein-o is at his best. He’s a winner. He’s made it to the top of each level in his career. That’s why he’s been able to win with different people. He knows what it takes. He’s got that killer instinct that is so needed out here.”

Jeff Alzina, the team’s coach, puts Metzger in an elite category.

“Is he the best at certain skills? That’s debatable,” said Alzina. “But he’s either the top or one of the top 3 competitors out there. When you get to the crème of the crop, he’s one of the top couple of guys, for sure. He’s extremely focused on beating the person on the other side of the net. He has what (former UCLA basketball) coach (John) Wooden calls competitive greatness. He’s at his best when it matters the most.”

Metzger credits the high level he’s been able to play at over the years to the way he takes care of himself. Metzger employs quite the impressive list of doctors and trainers. That list includes the likes of trainer Markus Elliott (Peak Performance Project), 2004 Athens Olympics trainer Steve Paulseth and chiropractor Dr. Patrick Fowler (who has worked with the Gracie family of mixed martial arts fame). Elliott has done work with the NFL’s New England Patriots in the past.

“I spend a good amount of time and money in keeping my body going,” said Metzger. “The tool of our trade is yourself. You are putting money in the bank every time you take care of your body. All of those guys have really helped me out.”

Advanced training, Metzger, says, has become a necessary part of the pro game.

“There are too many good players out there,” said Metzger. “Now you’re training almost year-round to try and stay ahead of people. It seems like we put more time and effort into it each year. That could be more from the fact that I’m getting older. You have to stay on top of your body with all of these young bucks out there. I feel like it’s a different atmosphere out there. When I started, it was more free-flowing. You’d go play a bunch of games and have a few beers at Sharky’s. Now you have a coach and you train three hours and then go to the gym and then to physical therapy. It’s more professional, but I like it.”

His dedication to training has helped him maintain a high-level of uninterrupted play in the sand.

“I’ve had to play hurt,” said Metzger. “I’ve never missed a game in my life, knock on wood and I’ve had no surgeries. I just had a great practice. I felt like I was 27 again. That will change, though. I’ve done this enough times to know there are good days and bad days. You don’t get comfortable with either. Right around the corner there might be a mystery pain and then you think your career is over. And then the next day you wake up and it’s gone and you think you can play 10 more years. I’ve been at the top of the rollercoaster and at the bottom of it. You keep playing and then tomorrow will be different.”

Now in his 12th pro beach season, Metzger has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

“I’m having a great time out here,” said Metzger, who enjoys sailing in his spare time. “I don’t ever see a reason to put a date on it or any window. I see myself playing three or four more years. I don’t see any reason to stop.”
Certainly not when Metzger is enjoying the ride he’s currently on with Lambert.

As teenagers, Lambert remembers toiling on the beach with Metzger—both players dreaming big.

“We used to play on the baby court and pretend to be Karch Kiraly and Steve Timmons,” said Lambert. “It was a pipe dream we had back then that were going to make it to the Olympics together. It wasn’t fathomable. We’d get into intense double-or-nothing games for milkshakes at the snack bar when we didn’t have money for milkshakes. Years later, we’re in each other’s company again. Our paths have crossed again at the elite level.”

But it took a heart-wrenching decision by Metzger to make reunion possible.
“The hardest decision I’ve had to make in volleyball was leaving Jake (Gibb),” said Metzger, who along with his wife, Emily, are Hawaii residents in the off-season. 

“But it was now or never with Mike at the time. It’s been great. We grew up together and have been buddies since the 10th grade. We might not be the best at all of the skills, but we’re definitely the team with the most aura and the most heart. I believe we win games at the wire because we have a strong bond with each other. We can count on each other. I’m having a good time out there playing beach volleyball and doing it with my best friend.”

That, too, is extraordinary.