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Mireya Luis

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Mireya Luis
Personal information
Full nameAlejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández
Born (1967-08-25) 25 August 1967 (age 57)
Camagüey, Cuba
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight69 kg (152 lb)
Spike339 cm (133 in)
Block325 cm (128 in)
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Number3
National team
1983–2001 Cuba

Alejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández, often referred to as Mireya (born 25 August 1967),[1] is a Cuban former volleyball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She won gold medals at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics with the Cuban women's national volleyball team.[2][1] She was the captain of the Cuban team from the late 1980s until her retirement.[3]

In 2004, Mireya was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[2]

Career

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Pan American Games

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At the age of 10, Mireya started playing volleyball.[2] At 16, Mireya joined the Cuban national team for the 1983 Pan American Games, winning a gold medal.[4] She competed at the 1987 Pan American Games, again helping Cuba win the tournament.[1][5] She won additional gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1991 and 1995.[1]

World Cups and World Championships

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In 1985, Mireya won a silver medal with the Cuban team at the FIVB World Cup, where the Chinese led by Lang Ping won the gold.[4] In that tournament, Mireya was named the "best attacker".[4] In 1989, she won her first FIVB World Cup gold medal with Cuba, and was awarded as the "best spiker" and "most valuable player".[4] She won additional gold medals at the 1991 and 1995 FIVB World Cup, being selected as the "best attacker" in both tournaments and the "most valuable player" in 1995.[4][6]

Mireya led Cuba to the silver medal at the 1986 FIVB World Championship,[7] and subsequently led Cuba to gold medals at the 1994 and 1998 FIVB World Championship.[8]

Olympic Games

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After a brief hiatus due to a knee injury that required surgery in 1990, Mireya resumed play and became a dominant force on the team.[4] Mireya won her first Olympic gold medal in 1992 in Barcelona.[4] She would win her second Olympic gold medal in 1996 in Atlanta.[9][4] Although she contemplated retiring after winning her second Olympic gold medal, she continued playing for the national team.[10] Mireya achieved her third Olympic gold medal in 2000 in Sydney, and soon after retired in 2001.[4]

Mireya's vertical jump

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Mireya was known for her spectacular jumping power, reaching 3.39 meters (11'1"), more than any other player, though being only 1.75 meters (5'9") tall.[11][2]

FIVB

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In 2018, Mireya was unanimously elected to the position of executive vice president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).[12]

Personal life

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Mireya has a daughter, Idanaisi, and a grandson, Darío.[13]

Individual awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Mireya Luis". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Mireya Luis". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. ^ Nacianceno, Alfonso (27 June 2017). "Mireya, a well-grounded Cuban athlete". Granma. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Coll Untoria, Jorge Luis (24 April 2023). "Mireya Luis' great jump". Oncubanews.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. ^ Harvey, Randy (21 August 1987). "The 1987 Pan American Games : Women's Volleyball : A Bored Cuba Team Takes Time to Top U.S." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 September 2024. (subscription required)
  6. ^ Lokegaonkar, Jay (5 February 2023). "History of FIVB Volleyball World Cup and winners list". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  7. ^ Averhoff, Damián D. (11 May 2018). "Maternidad y deporte: La increíble historia de Mireya Luis". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ "'The Spectacular Caribbean Girls': Cuba's three volleyball golds in a row". Olympics.com. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  9. ^ Araton, Harvey (4 August 1996). "For Cuban Veteran, Just Thought of Pro Career Brings Tears". The New York Times. sec. 8 p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2024. (subscription required)
  10. ^ Norwood, Robyn (4 August 1996). "Present Is Golden, but Future Not Bright". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2024. (subscription required)
  11. ^ Gunston, Jo (22 September 2022). "Volleyball: The most asked questions about women's indoor volleyball". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Mireya Luis elected vice president of FIVB". CubaSí. 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  13. ^ Arce Montero, Angélica; Suñol Robles, Jorge (10 May 2021). "Las 3 del día: La impresionante historia de maternidad de Mireya Luis (+ Podcast)". Cubadebate.cu (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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Awards
Preceded by
First Award
Most Valuable Player of
FIVB World Grand Prix

1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by
First Award
Best Spiker of
FIVB World Grand Prix

1993, 1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by Best Spiker of
FIVB World Championship

1994
Succeeded by