MANHATTAN BEACH — Phil Dalhausser hit a fork in the road shortly after graduating from the University of Central Florida more than two decades ago.

Take his parents advice and get a “real” job, or follow his friend Nick Lucena to South Carolina, where they could pursue their dreams of becoming professional beach volleyball players while living rent free.

Dalhausser was hesitant at first, but he’s glad he chose the latter.

“Completely changed the direction of our lives,” Lucena said.

Four years after that fateful decision, Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Switzerland, becoming the first-ever American team to win gold at the tournament. The following year, they won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing .

Dalhausser went on to qualify for t

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