San Clemente Gives Out First Key to City to Gold Medalist Kiraly

As thousands chanted “USA, USA,” the city Sunday honored two hometown heroes--Karch Kiraly, Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, and Bob Anderson, U.S. assistant coach in Greco-Roman wrestling.

“This is awesome,” said Kiraly, as he looked out at the cheering crowd with his wife, Janna, and children, Kory, 4, and Kristian, 6, at his side.

Kiraly was given a key to the city by Mayor Steve Apodaca, becoming the first to ever receive such a recognition.

With an American flag flying high behind Kiraly and Anderson, the mayor recognized both men for “bringing great honor to the United States of America and to the city of San Clemente.”

Apodaca had ordered a search of the city’s archives and discovered that a key to the city has never been awarded.

Kiraly, who hadn’t eaten yet, joked that he would make quick use of the key to open a vendor’s booth for some food.

Kiraly, who won gold medals for indoor volleyball in 1984 and 1988, won his third gold in beach volleyball during the Atlanta Olympics.

To cheers and yells of “Atta boy Karch,” the tall volleyball player thanked the crowd who had spent the day eating grilled hot dogs and dancing in the street as part of the city’s Fiesta and Street Fair.

During a ceremony interrupted by cheers, Kiraly said that one of the highlights came when he spotted his family wearing pink hats during the opening ceremony.

“There is nothing like the feeling of standing during the gold medal ceremony and representing your country and winning a gold medal for being the best in your sport,” Kiraly said.

For Anderson, the Olympics were the “warmest and friendliest” world-caliber event he has coached in, and he enjoyed being in Atlanta, he said.

“But the most exciting time I had,” Anderson said, “was getting married in the wrestling venue. I even wore my wrestling shoes.”

While at the Olympics, Anderson married July Mundy, who also is from San Clemente.

Anderson also received praise for a wrestling program he started in 1980 at the local Boys and Girls Club. One of his proudest moments, Anderson said, was helping train a group of wrestlers from San Clemente who later became top competitors.

Kiraly and Anderson stayed and autographed volleyballs and T-shirts.

Eleven-year-old Natalie Polito of Laguna Hills was tickled that Kiraly signed her notebook.

“We’ve been watching Olympics all week and I thought this would be a good idea for her to come here and actually meet an Olympian in person,” the youngster’s father, Chuck Polito, said.

More than 35,000 attended the city’s Fiesta celebration.