On a busy beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, people hold up their phones. They’re recording a famous athlete.

The game? Footvolley, a combination of soccer and beach volleyball. The athlete? A three-year-old border collie named Floki.

Floki sparks wonder among bystanders. He hangs tough in a game that even humans struggle to get a handle on. 

Want to try footvolley? The rules are nearly the same as beach volleyball. But the net is lower. Also, like in soccer, players may not use their hands or arms. 

Floki springs up from the sand to drive the ball with his mouth. His skill is making him famous. Hundreds of thousands of people follow him on social media.

Gustavo Rodrigues is Floki’s owner. He’s also a footvolley coach. He says Floki started showing his athletic skill at just two months old when he began jumping after birthday balloons.

Footvolley players need to be coordinated and fast. They must sprint back and forth over soft sand in the baking Sun. Floki was a natural. A star was born.

“He does things that even some professionals don’t—like positioning on the court,” says Mr. Rodrigues. “Sometimes the ball goes from one side [of the court] to the other, and he doesn’t keep his back turned to it. He turns toward the ball to always hit it straight on.”

Border collies are famously smart dogs. Floki seems to understand the basic rules of the game. Mr. Rodrigues listens for his “bark!” That means Floki wants him to pass the ball. Floki celebrates a score by jumping into Mr. Rodrigues’ arms.

The team wins about one match in every three. Opponents play hard against them. No one wants to be beaten by a dog! 

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. — 2 Timothy 2:5