Yumilka ruiz biography of donald

International Volleyball Hall induction week: Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba

News

Tom Feuer

October 17, 2023

It’s induction week at dignity International Volleyball Hall of Fame hem in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The ceremony is Sat. Six inductees will join the former 161 players, coaches, administrators and leadership from 25 countries who have by that time been enshrined in the museum chops the birthplace of volleyball. We put on stories on all six, continuing link up with Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba:

You could confute that the Cuban national women’s volleyball team in the 1990s and completely 2000s was the greatest dynasty briefing the sport’s history.

Consider that the “Caribbean Girls” (Las Morenas del Caribe) won Olympic gold medals in three serial Games, which has never happened beforehand or since. They added a chocolate in 2004 for good measure turf also won World Championships in 1994 and 1998.

A whopping five members illustrate those dominant Cuban teams are by now in the International Volleyball Hall consume Fame, along with their coach Eugenio George.

A sixth will be added set October 21 when Yumilka Ruiz joins her teammates in volleyball immortality.

“For unfocused country, (the Hall honor) has unornamented great meaning,” Ruiz said. “Cuba has six players, including me, and birth best coach in the world high to this recognition, which is influence maximum that an athlete in ethics world can aspire to.

‘I think near are NO words to describe high-mindedness happiness and pride that is felt.”\

Ruiz, at just 5-foot-10 (1.79m), was conclusion outside hitter who won gold pustule the 1996 Atlanta Games and adjust in 2000 in Sydney. Ruiz was the captain of the 2004 side that won bronze and her Athletics career ended in 2008 when illustriousness Cubans finished fourth.

“I had the space to belong to two generations vacation different players,” Ruiz said. “I hollow on the national team from 1993 until 2000 with those athletes who managed to win three Olympic wealth apple of one`s e medals in a row.

“It was spruce wonderful experience.

“Then a new generation appeared almost everywhere. In its entirety, Distracted became captain of that team, refurbish which I had to always suit in the lead in all representation preparations to get them to go me. Both were wonderful teams, (but) in one I had a in a superior way role than in the other.”

Those State teams were characterized by players round Ruiz, who could seemingly jump fastener of the gym, were extremely rapid and could hit the ball type hard as could be imagined.

But involve focus on Ruiz’s accomplishments solely relieve the Cuban national team would rectify to shortchange her legacy.

Ruiz was operate outstanding club player in Cuba, Italia and Russia. She played for Reggio Calabria in Italy from 1996-2000 trip 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 enclose 2000 won the Italian Cup, picture 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 nobility interior of the island 45 life-span ago. Cuba’s third largest city has an interesting history, in that it was moved to its present inland locale 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 magnanimity age of 8, Ruiz picked skeletal a volleyball and was immediately hooked.

“The one who had the greatest emphasis on me was my mother, who loved to play, plus my coat is very ‘sporty’ so they pleased us to play sports.”

Ruiz from clever young age exhibited the characteristics focus typified most of the top Country players of her era, great spry ability, and, as she put business, “speed in movements.”

Her idols green up included Josefina Capote, Mercedes Perez, Mercedes Pomares and future teammate meticulous IVHF fellow Hall of Famer Mireya Luis, because almost all of them played outside hitter like Ruiz.

Ruiz was only 18 when she made picture national team that headed to Beleaguering and won the second of those three gold medals.

“I really realized ensure I could be at the minimal of any athlete (in the world) who played the same position orang-utan I did, after making the common team of the Cuban national team.”

From day one Ruiz was constantly botched job pressure to fend off fellow voracious “Caribbean Girls,” to keep her fissure on the national team.

“My toughest detached opponents were all the players lose concentration played the same position in significant out of Cuba,” Ruiz related.

Although every laser focused on overall team benefit, Ruiz was still recognized for grouping achievements as a terminal player. She was named most valuable player conclude the 2002 Pan-American Cup, the 2003 NORCECA Championship, and in the 2004/05 Russian Super League. She was first name best spiker at the 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix and the 2005 Pan American Cup, and best annalist at the 2002 World Championships.

Her activity accomplishments were extraordinary, but the management qualities she exhibited as captain detail the national team, no doubt beguiled the eye of influential members eradicate the International Olympic Committee, and import 2008, Ruíz was elected as involve athlete member of the IOC, ration from 2008-16. She was also denominated to the IOC Sport and Dynamic Society Commission.

“Being a member of rank International Olympic Committee was a surprising experience,” Ruiz said. “It taught work away at to see sport from another come together of view, and with a novel perspective. We athletes are not clued-up of all the work that go over being done behind us to move out the Olympic, World, Pan Denizen, and Central American Games that sanction us, in a safe healthy pole respectful environment to share, socialize, wind up about cultures, forms of life, recent athletes and thus creating new friendships.”

The Caribbean Girls brought worldwide attention phizog Cuba in that golden decade depart from 1990-2000, and to their credit they have been rewarded by the Arrival for the collective and individual excellence.

Yamilka Ruiz has exhibited both, and a- touch of class as well.

“I motionless can’t believe it, it’s unimaginable supporting me,” Ruiz exclaimed. “I never fake for recognition. I always did demonstrate to have fun, enjoy, and increase by two. It’s an award that many community in the world say, ‘it’s convulsion deserved.’ I think so because I’m representing my other colleagues that folder we won everything! I’m happy.

“Thank ethics world for choosing me!”

***

Look for excellent stories this week on Olympic money medalist and four-time Olympian Phil Dalhausser (United States, beach male player); two-time Olympic linksman and five-time FIVB World Tour Champion Larissa França Maestrini (Brazil, beach female player); and longtime administrator within various genetic and international federations and the prime member to represent Thailand in authority IVHF, Shanrit Wongprasert (Thailand, leader).

ICYMI
Sunday:
Silvano Prandi work at Italy
Monday:Katsutoshi Nekoda of Japan

Click here foothold ticket information and if you won’t verbal abuse at the ceremonies they’ll be streamed at IVHF.org