The Myositis Association (TMA) is thrilled to introduce Tri Bourne, professional beach volleyball player and Olympian who is living with dermatomyositis.
Tri will be honored with TMA’s Heroes in the Fight Patient Ambassador Award on September 20, 2025, in Dallas, TX. The gala is the centerpiece of MyoCon: TMA’s Global Myositis Patient Conference, recognizing outstanding leadership and excellence in the myositis community.
The Myositis Heroes in the Fight Patient Ambassador Award is annually presented to an individual that has demonstrated sustained effort and extraordinary success in raising awareness of myositis diseases among the public.
From the sands of the Olympic Games to the stage of advocacy, Tri Bourne exemplifies perseverance. As a professional athlete, Olympian, and broadcaster, he didn’t let a diagnosis of dermatomyositis in 2016 define his journey. Instead, he turned challenge into fuel. Tri returned to competition in August 2018, and won the first post-diagnosis international tournament he entered on October 4, 2018 at an FIVB qualifier in Qinzhou, China. Tri has been rising, competing, and inspiring countless others facing myositis since then.
“I’m only going to be a man of my values.”
Tri Bourne
Tri Bourne has been featured in AwareNow as the Official Ambassador for Invisible Disabilities Awareness and has had the honor of wearing a Team USA Jersey for 10 years! He claimed 12 Association of Volleyball Professionals titles, including two Manhattan Beach Opens, before retiring this fall from professional beach volleyball.
Sandcast Podcast
Tri Bourne hosts the popular SANDCAST podcast, the first and leading beach volleyball podcast in the world, with cohost Travis Mewhirter. You can catch the latest in beach news and episodes here.
A Family Affair
Tri will be accompanied in Dallas by his wife Gabrielle and their two children. Gabrielle is a luminary in her own right—as an actress, producer, and builder in addition to being a myositis care partner.
Tri has been an incredibly impressive athlete during his 14 years as a professional beach volleyball player. He was the AVP Rookie & Most Improved Player in 2013, and then—a decade later—his 2022 season featured three AVP wins.
“There are a lot of stats, but what really impresses us at TMA is the 698 days between matches that Tri spent sidelined over the 2017-18 seasons. He was battling back from dermatomyositis each and every one of those days, demonstrating the resilience of our myositis community. Tri and Gabby Bourne are truly heroes in the fight against myositis,” says Paula Eichenbrenner, TMA Executive Director.
TMA is so excited to welcome the “Bourne on the Beach” family to MyoCon 2025!!!!
Thanks to argenx, the lead sponsor for TMA’s Patient Ambassador Award.
