Kristina May

Kristina May
Kristina May
Personal information
Full name	Kristina Valjas May
Nationality	Canadian
Born	2 June 1987 (age 37); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	68 kg (150 lb)
College / University	University of Toronto
Beach volleyball information
Current teammate
2011-16; 2017	Jamie Broder; Taylor Pischke
National team
	Canada

Kristina Valjas May (née Valjas, born 2 June 1987)^[1] is a Canadian beach volleyball player. She qualified to compete (along with partner Jamie Broder) at the 2016 Summer Olympics.^[2] They advanced to the round of 16 until they were eliminated, finishing in a tie for ninth place.^[3]

Life and career

Valjas was born on 2 June 1987 to parents who both played varsity volleyball in university. Growing up, she competed in mountain biking and cross-country skiing. She is the older sister of skier Len Väljas.^[3] Like her parents, she played university volleyball for the Toronto Varsity Blues, before transitioning to beach volleyball, where in 2010 she became part of the national team.^[4] Valjas formed a double with Jamie Broder in 2011, and went on to win NORCECA continental titles in 2013 and 2015.^[3]

In April 2015, Valjas and Broder won an FIVB World Tour medal, becoming the first Canadian female athletes to do so.^[3]

In October 2016, she married John May, and adopted his surname.^[5] In 2017, May started a new team with Taylor Pischke.^[6]

References

^ "Kristina May". FIVB.org. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ Hossain, Asif (11 June 2016). "Three beach volleyball teams earn Olympic berths". Olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Kristina Valjas
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Kristina Valjas". Olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. 19 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
^ "Toronto to Rio: Kristina Valjas hits the beach this week with hopes of an Olympic medal". Postcity.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
^ "Bio". KristinaValjas.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
^ "CANADA'S TAYLOR PISCHKE OPTIMISTIC AFTER 0-3 START WITH NEW PARTNER". Volleymob.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Kristina May (formerly Kristina Valjas)

External links

Kristina May at FIVB.com
Kristina Valjas May at the Beach Volleyball Database
Kristina Valjas at Team Canada
Kristina Valjas at Olympics.com
Kristina Valjas at Olympedia (archive)
Kristina Valjas (official website)

This biographical article relating to volleyball in Canada is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[a-1] "Kristina May". FIVB.org. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2016.

[2] Hossain, Asif (11 June 2016). "Three beach volleyball teams earn Olympic berths". Olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Kristina Valjas

[:0-3] "Kristina Valjas". Olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. 19 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2017.

[4] "Toronto to Rio: Kristina Valjas hits the beach this week with hopes of an Olympic medal". Postcity.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2017.

[5] "Bio". KristinaValjas.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.

[6] "CANADA'S TAYLOR PISCHKE OPTIMISTIC AFTER 0-3 START WITH NEW PARTNER". Volleymob.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Kristina May (formerly Kristina Valjas)

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