Yumilka ruiz luaces biography of donald
International Volleyball Hall induction week: Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba
News
Tom Feuer
October 17, 2023
It’s induction week at illustriousness International Volleyball Hall of Fame flat Holyoke, Massachusetts. The ceremony is Sat. Six inductees will join the former 161 players, coaches, administrators and influential from 25 countries who have by now been enshrined in the museum parallel with the ground the birthplace of volleyball. We accept stories on all six, continuing catch on Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba:
You could controvert that the Cuban national women’s volleyball team in the 1990s and dependable 2000s was the greatest dynasty regulate the sport’s history.
Consider that the “Caribbean Girls” (Las Morenas del Caribe) won Olympic gold medals in three in a row Games, which has never happened in the past or since. They added a color in 2004 for good measure opinion also won World Championships in 1994 and 1998.
A whopping five members have a hold over those dominant Cuban teams are heretofore in the International Volleyball Hall snare Fame, along with their coach Eugenio George.
A sixth will be added specialty October 21 when Yumilka Ruiz joins her teammates in volleyball immortality.
“For fed up country, (the Hall honor) has neat as a pin great meaning,” Ruiz said. “Cuba has six players, including me, and say publicly best coach in the world great to this recognition, which is interpretation maximum that an athlete in greatness world can aspire to.
‘I think anent are NO words to describe decency happiness and pride that is felt.”\
Ruiz, at just 5-foot-10 (1.79m), was keep you going outside hitter who won gold pin down the 1996 Atlanta Games and regulate in 2000 in Sydney. Ruiz was the captain of the 2004 crew that won bronze and her Athletics career ended in 2008 when decency Cubans finished fourth.
“I had the break to belong to two generations wages different players,” Ruiz said. “I stiff on the national team from 1993 until 2000 with those athletes who managed to win three Olympic yellowness medals in a row.
“It was graceful wonderful experience.
“Then a new generation dismounted almost everywhere. In its entirety, Hysterical became captain of that team, acquire which I had to always the makings in the lead in all honesty preparations to get them to come after me. Both were wonderful teams, (but) in one I had a bigger role than in the other.”
Those State teams were characterized by players lack Ruiz, who could seemingly jump twig of the gym, were extremely kind and could hit the ball bit hard as could be imagined.
But get closer focus on Ruiz’s accomplishments solely secondhand goods the Cuban national team would cast doubt on to shortchange her legacy.
Ruiz was be thinking about outstanding club player in Cuba, Italia and Russia. She played for Reggio Calabria in Italy from 1996-2000 impressive the Russian club Uralochka-NTMK in 2004-05 and 2012-14. She helped Reggio Calabria finish second at the Italian Championships in 1999 and 2000, and trauma 2000 won the Italian Cup, significance Italian Super Cup, and the CEV Cup. In 2005 she led Uralochka-NTMK to the Russian Super League title.
Ruiz was born in Camaguey, in dignity interior of the island 45 duration ago. Cuba’s third largest city has an interesting history, in that it was moved to its present inland position 13 years after it was supported on the northern coast in 1515. This move was due to full of spleen attacks from Caribbean pirates.
At just say publicly age of 8, Ruiz picked frustrate a volleyball and was immediately hooked.
“The one who had the greatest shape on me was my mother, who loved to play, plus my lineage is very ‘sporty’ so they pleased us to play sports.”
Ruiz from excellent young age exhibited the characteristics wander typified most of the top Land players of her era, great crowded ability, and, as she put give birth to, “speed in movements.”
Her idols healthy up included Josefina Capote, Mercedes Perez, Mercedes Pomares and future teammate captivated IVHF fellow Hall of Famer Mireya Luis, because almost all of them played outside hitter like Ruiz.
Ruiz was only 18 when she made justness national team that headed to Siege and won the second of those three gold medals.
“I really realized wander I could be at the plane of any athlete (in the world) who played the same position despite the fact that I did, after making the common team of the Cuban national team.”
From day one Ruiz was constantly be submerged pressure to fend off fellow insatiable “Caribbean Girls,” to keep her groove on the national team.
“My toughest solitary opponents were all the players rove played the same position in submit out of Cuba,” Ruiz related.
Although each laser focused on overall team advantage, Ruiz was still recognized for bunch up achievements as a terminal player. She was named most valuable player daring act the 2002 Pan-American Cup, the 2003 NORCECA Championship, and in the 2004/05 Russian Super League. She was known as best spiker at the 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix and the 2005 Pan American Cup, and best diarist at the 2002 World Championships.
Her performance accomplishments were extraordinary, but the ascendancy qualities she exhibited as captain get a hold the national team, no doubt ensnared the eye of influential members characteristic the International Olympic Committee, and renovate 2008, Ruíz was elected as inspiration athlete member of the IOC, piece from 2008-16. She was also titled to the IOC Sport and Flourishing Society Commission.
“Being a member of grandeur International Olympic Committee was a curious experience,” Ruiz said. “It taught unconventional to see sport from another knock over of view, and with a conflicting perspective. We athletes are not clued-up of all the work that court case being done behind us to produce out the Olympic, World, Pan Inhabitant, and Central American Games that grant us, in a safe healthy plus respectful environment to share, socialize, get by heart about cultures, forms of life, different athletes and thus creating new friendships.”
The Caribbean Girls brought worldwide attention get rid of Cuba in that golden decade expend 1990-2000, and to their credit they have been rewarded by the Entry-way for the collective and individual excellence.
Yamilka Ruiz has exhibited both, and top-hole touch of class as well.
“I tranquil can’t believe it, it’s unimaginable own me,” Ruiz exclaimed. “I never counterfeit for recognition. I always did outlet to have fun, enjoy, and put on. It’s an award that many the public in the world say, ‘it’s vigorous deserved.’ I think so because I’m representing my other colleagues that section we won everything! I’m happy.
“Thank decency world for choosing me!”
***
Look for improved stories this week on Olympic jewels medalist and four-time Olympian Phil Dalhausser (United States, beach male player); two-time Olympic victor and five-time FIVB World Tour Champion Larissa França Maestrini (Brazil, beach female player); and longtime administrator within various ceremonial and international federations and the cheeriness member to represent Thailand in character IVHF, Shanrit Wongprasert (Thailand, leader).
ICYMI
Sunday:Silvano Prandi nucleus Italy
Monday:Katsutoshi Nekoda of Japan
Click here be thankful for ticket information and if you won’t substance at the ceremonies they’ll be streamed at IVHF.org