Who is Kelly Cheng’s Husband? All about Jordan Cheng who coaches the dynamic duo as they compete in the Paris Olympics

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Jul 29, 2024 08:53 GMT

Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes of the USA began their beach volleyball campaign at the Paris Olympics on an impressive note. They defeated the team of Barbora Hermannova and Marie-Sara Stochlova from Czechia 2-0 (21-16, 21-11). Now all this duo needs to do is to win against France in their next match on July 31 to book a direct berth to the knockouts.

Jordan Cheng, their coach, would be impressed by the strong start. Many may not be aware along with the team coach, he is also the husband of Kelly Cheng. So who is Jordan Cheng, and how is he aiming for another shot at Olympic glory in beach volleyball with his spouse?

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Kelly Cheng & Jordan Cheng's early career

Kelly Cheng[L] with husband Jordan Cheng [C] and team partner Sarah Hughes [R] | Photo taken from Kelly Cheng's official Facebook page

Kelly Marie Cheng (neé Claes) is a 28-year-old beach volleyball player who has seven World Tour gold medals to her credit. Besides winning a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in 2014, Cheng also won the 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championships. Cheng had represented the USA at the Tokyo Olympics too. She and Sarah Sponcil made it to the Round of 16, where they lost to the Canadian duo of Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson.

On the other hand, Jordan Cheng was a volleyball player at the collegiate level. He graduated from Chapman University in 2013, before focusing on a career as a volleyball coach. He completed a master's degree in Coaching & Athletic Administration from Concordia University, subsequently coaching at Concordia University. He later moved to the University of California, Irvine, where he is now a third-year assistant coach.

When Kelly Cheng and Jordan Cheng met each other

Before coaching Kelly, Jordan had led Karissa Cook and Jace Pardon to the gold medal in beach volleyball at the Pan Am Games in 2019.

Not much is known about when and where Kelly Claes and Jordan Cheng first met, but it was during the beach volleyball tours that the two got to know each other.

Kelly Claes and Jordan Cheng married each other in 2022, and since then, Kelly has been coached by Jordan.

Under Jordan's tutelage, Kelly Cheng and Sarah Hughes won the World Beach Pro Tour meet at Ostrava in 2024.

Kelly Cheng's chances of gold at the Paris Olympics

Kelly Cheng [in red] in action at the Paris Olympics against Czechia | Getty

Can Kelly Cheng and Sarah Hughes create history at the Paris Olympics, under the tutelage of Kelly's husband Jordan Cheng?

That depends on which team the American duo meets in the knockout rounds. If the two remain on top, Cheng and Hughes will have an easier shot at Olympic glory. The major challenge for them is the duo of Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar of Australia, who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics.