He returned to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens with partner Jeff Nygaard, becoming the first two-time U.S. male beach volleyball Olympian.

[2] Blanton is one of the only players in the history of volleyball to win a championship at every level of the game (collegiate, Olympic, and professional).

[3] Blanton was known for his fast serve, holding the AVP record for 11 aces in a single game to 15 in Vail, Colorado, in 1997.

Currently, Blanton is a sports broadcasting analyst covering the FIVB, AVP, NVL (National Volleyball League), and the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Series, as well as working as a sideline reporter for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Blanton was the runner-up to Andrew Firestone on the third season of the ABC television network reality show The Bachelor.