The incredible story of Kim Glass: Olympian, model, and victim

Kim Glass is a former professional volleyball player turned model who represented her country at the 2008 Olympics, before turning her attention to modeling. In 2022, tragedy struck, but what exactly happened?

Glass was born in Los Angeles, California, before moving to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at an early age.

It was at Conestoga Valley High School where Glass first started playing volleyball. Standing 6’3”, she was a natural outside hitter, earning herself the 2001 Pennsylvania State Gatorade Player of the Year, per USA Volleyball.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

2001 was the same year that Glass made her first junior national team, competing at that year’s Junior Women’s World Championships.

Glass’ talent was striking, earning herself a scholarship to Arizona to play in the ultra-competitive NCAA competition.

Per the Arizona Daily Wildcat, Glass shattered the school record for kills, registering 2,151 during her college career. In doing so, she became the first Wildcat to do so.

Following her college career, Glass moved to Puerto Rico to play for the Pinkin de Corozal professional team. Glass only spent a year in Puerto Rico before moving to Turkey to play for Fenerbache, per USA Volleyball.

Glass’ play was enough to secure a spot in the 2008 USA Olympic squad, where she would represent her country in Beijing.

Per Ebony, “Glass helped lead her team to a silver medal finish, showcasing her exceptional skills as a setter and outside hitter. Her performance on the world stage solidified her reputation as one of the sport's elite athletes.”

Following the Olympics, Glass would continue to compete for various pro teams around the globe, playing in Brazil, China, and Russia before calling it quits in 2014.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Following the end of her volleyball career, Glass took up modeling gigs where she could before joining the cast of the 2017 show, The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars. Champs vs. Stars was an MTV, pitting former Challenge winners against ex-professional athletes. Glass was joined by former Olympian Shawn Johnson and ex-NFL star Terrell Owens on her team.

In 2022, Glass was with a friend in Los Angeles when a homeless man attacked her with a metal bolt, causing major facial injuries including fractures and a laceration that required 40 stitches, per CBS News.

Following the attack, Glass gave an interview to KCAL News where she described her attacker, saying, “He looked at me with, like, rage in his eyes.”

Glass was worried her injuries would cause her to lose her modeling contracts, telling DIBS, “I remember thinking to myself, oh, man, who's gonna want to hire me with this scar on my face.” However, companies were willing to work around her injuries, which Glass described as, “o beautiful.”

Glass’ attacker, Semeon Tesfamariam, was sentenced to eight years in prison in October 2023, but with time served and good behavior, CBS News expects him to only serve three. Glass voiced her anger at this light sentence, saying, “Is it because I didn't die that it's okay?” and “It's like a little slap in the face.”

Glass’ outspokenness on the light sentence didn’t go unnoticed, with the local distinct attorney releasing a statement saying: “I want to recognize Kim Glass for her bravery and steadfastness… Not only has she spoken out for herself, but she desires change and justice for others.”

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!