After a decade representing Australia on the international beach volleyball stage, Australian Volleyroo Paul Burnett has announced his retirement from the sport, bringing to a close a career highlighted by a Commonwealth Games gold medal and countless memories with teammates, friends and family.
The 28-year-old enjoyed one of the greatest moments of his career at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he and partner Chris McHugh produced a thrilling performance to win gold for Australia. The pair dropped just one set on their way to the final before defeating Canada in a dramatic match that went down to the final points of the deciding set.
Reflecting on his decision to step away from professional beach volleyball after 10 years in the sport, Burnett said the time felt right to move on to the next chapter.
“I’m feeling pretty good about it, and definitely at peace,” Burnett said.
“I felt like it was time to move on to the next thing, I’ve spent 10 years in the sport and was ready to move on and my time had come.”
Burnett’s career featured several standout moments, but the Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham stands above the rest.
“Yeah, obviously winning gold with Chris in Birmingham was super special, especially having family and friends there too, I think that’s got to be number one,” he said.
“Also that first Asian Champs and winning that one with Chris as well was a great memory.
“But there’s also so many from when I was 18 and those junior events, the first events with Marcus (Ferguson), and playing in those first Junior World Champs. They’re all super special, lots of highs.”
Throughout his career, Burnett partnered with a number of teammates, forming close bonds through the highs and lows of professional sport.
“It is the people that make it special,” he said.
“And when I was reflecting back and looking through all the photos from the journey, you really realise how many people the sport has brought you in contact with and how many friends you’ve made along the way.
“And to go through the highs and lows of professional sport with those people, you become super close and that’s what I’ll remember the most.
“What I’ll value the most is those friendships and those times we shared together.”
Beach volleyball also gave Burnett the opportunity to travel the world competing at some of the sport’s most iconic locations, with one destination standing out above the rest.
“I got to go to lots of places, but I think the most beautiful would have to be Switzerland, up in Gstaad, that’s pretty incredible,” he said.
“I also got to play in Fiji, Japan, which were both lovely. But I think every place we went was always a little bit different and had something beautiful, but Switzerland is probably at the top of the list.”
While Burnett’s playing career has come to an end, the next chapter is already underway as he returns to a profession he began studying earlier in his sporting journey.
“I am a dentist, and I did my study during my first few years in the sport, and then put it on the back burner, so now I’m back to immersing myself into that space, which I’m really excited about,” he said.
“There’s a lot of opportunity and room to grow, and it does sort of satisfy the same interest that sport did in terms of that constant pursuit for progression and perfection.
“So you’ll find me in a dental clinic in the foreseeable future at the moment.”
Although he is stepping away from the professional circuit, Burnett hasn’t ruled out the occasional return to the sand.
“It has been fun, and it’s nice to be able to play the sport just for the enjoyment, rather than caring too much about the results,” he said.
“No set plans for the rest of the year, but next summer, you might see me out and about.”
From Junior World Championships to international tours and a Commonwealth Games gold medal, Burnett leaves the sport having made a lasting contribution to Australian beach volleyball, and with a lifetime of memories formed on the sand.
