Hawaii, USA, December 31, 2015 – USA beach volleyball player Tri Bourne reflects on his successful 2015 season and looks ahead to the biggest multi-sport event in the world, the Olympic Games.

"It's a good end to the year and we're hoping to carry that momentum through 2016," Bourne said.

Bourne grew up and learned the sport in Hawaii, and went on to play college volleyball in California. He is now one of the top players in his country.

At age 26, Bourne has won the FIVB Rookie of the Year in 2014 and has made a name for himself with 43-year-old partner John Hyden.

"As a young player I got picked up with him right away when I got on tour,” Bourne said. “You can't ask for anything more than to have the most experience guy out there.  He invested the rest of his career in me.  I was very grateful to partner up with him."

The pair had won two local competitions to end the year and carried that momentum to the international scene with a third place finish in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Qatar Open.

"I'm getting confident, I'm finding my game," Bourne said.  "It's about me being as good as I can be and being as good a team-mate as I can be, so we can bring it all together."

Bringing it all together would mean being one of two teams representing Team USA at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a spot Bourne and Hyden currently hold, and one they'll try to solidify over the next six months during a gruelling qualifying process.

"I think the pressure is on the other teams,” Bourne said. “Just two years ago, my partner wasn't playing the FIVB World Tour and I was a nobody. Then we went for it and started making a name for ourselves on the FIVB World Tour. It's just a good opportunity to challenge myself and play at the highest level."

Bourne's journey to Brazil continues February 14 to 19 at the FIVB Kish Island Open in Iran.