Jody Gooding

Jody Gooding is an ex-beach volleyball player for England and Great Britain who was the youngest-ever British champion.

Early life

He was born in Gloucester. He attended school in Tuffley at St Peter's High School, Gloucester and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

Career

The youngest British Champion.

Previously based in Hermosa Beach, California, he competed on the world tour from 2007.

He won the men's championship with Paul Godwin at Weymouth in 2001 despite having a broken toe and whiplash injuries, and was named player of the tournament. He won again in 2003 with Clayton Lucas.

Training on Sandbanks Beach, Dorset, he won the Sandbanks Classic with Greg Weaver in 2004/2005. He completed a hat-trick the following year with M Bowes. He won the Volleyball England Beach Championship at Brighton in 2007 with Steve Grotowski.

In 2009, Gooding relocated to the UK beach volleyball HQ at TeamBath, part of the University of Bath. His team partner is Steve Grotowski, with whom he played at the FIVB World Series in Shanghai, China in 2009. He has played on the FIVB World Tour since 2007. He was the youngest-ever British champion. They were married on 4 September 2011 in a ceremony held on the beach in Folly Beach, South Carolina. He is a father to 3 children; Forde Francis Gooding, Taylor Gooding, and Blake Gooding.