Jake Gibb was a late bloomer.

The 32-year-old Bountiful native did not take up beach volleyball until after returning from an LDS Church mission to Costa Rica, during which he grew 4 inches to 6-foot-7. If he had enjoyed that growth spurt earlier, he might have pursued his boyhood passion for basketball.

Instead, Gibb is headed to the Beijing Olympics in a sport he never imagined he would play - beach volleyball.

Only after failing to make the Bountiful High School basketball team did Gibb start fiddling around with volleyball, mostly with friends in his neighborhood. He started playing a lot when he returned from his mission, and soon found himself winning tournaments.

Ultimately, he and his wife Jane moved to California with $1,600 between them so Gibb could try to succeed on the beach circuit. It took a couple of years and a new partner, but he did it, and now ranks among the best players in the world - and one of few Americans at this level who did not play volleyball in college.

In fact, Gibb attended the University of Utah expecting a future as a commercial loan officer. But he did not really want to return to school to pursue an MBA degree, so he turned his focus to beach volleyball.

Web site: www.jakegibb.com

Competition dates: Aug. 9-22

Timeline:

Born Feb. 6, 1976 with twin brother Coleman as the youngest of 11 children to Lawrence and Saundra Gibb in Bountiful.

High school sports: Graduates from Bountiful High School in 1994. Had failed to make the basketball team, devastating him and turning his interest toward volleyball. Also an exceptional golfer.

Church service: In 1997, returns from serving two-year LDS Church mission in Costa Rica, begins playing beach volleyball seriously and entering local tournaments.

Going on tour: Makes $650 in first attempt on AVP Tour in 2000. Earns even less the next two years, a total of $200, while playing a handful of tournaments each year while attending University of Utah. Weds Jane Watts, a Farmington native who played volleyball at Dixie State College.

Career move: In 2002, earns degree in business from University of Utah, moves to California to pursue beach volleyball career full-time. Wife takes two jobs to support him.

Tour win: Earns first title on the AVP Tour in 2004, winning the Austin Open with partner Adam Jewell. Earns $46,145 for the season.

MVP: In 2005, enjoys breakout season on AVP Tour with partner Stein Metzger, winning four events, $110,000 in prize money and the Most Valuable Player award. Metzger dumps him to partner with old friend.

New partner: Finds new partner in 2006 in Sean Rosenthal; enlists former Olympic silver medalist Mike Dodd to coach them and ends AVP Tour season with first of back-to-back fifth-place rankings.

Beijing bound: Unexpectedly loses this year in the first round of a FIVB World Tour event in Moscow, but earns enough ranking points to secure place in the Beijing Games.