LWOS is proud to bring you LWOS Xtra — a department that looks to cover some fantastic sports that we feel deserve regular attention from media.
Volleyball is a sport that many watch during the Olympics but for a variety of reasons either can’t seem to find it in our television guides or pass it over for other more mainstream sports. While it may never get the spotlight that football, baseball, basketball or hockey get in North America, it is a much beloved sport and is one that is supported well in many countries.
LWOS Xtra is proud to have a series of fantastic interviews lined up with current and former volleyball stars — both indoor and on the beach — that we hope will garner just a little more attention to these wonderful athletes.
To celebrate our new endeavour, I recap five of the best Olympic volleyball moments in history. Please enjoy the video and keep in touch with the latest from our new department LWOS Xtra. If you are interested in covering volleyball for us, beach or indoor, please visit our page for prospective writers to learn more.
#5 – Mireya Luis – Cuba – 1992-2000
Mireya Luis, a veteran of the Cuban team, was renowned for her extremely high verticals and thunderous strikes. In this match, Luis was set on the outside, and her strike left nothing for Chinese to dig. Cuba went on to win gold at the Atlanta Olympic Games, Mireya’s second of three gold medals for Cuba, with her being instrumental to her team’s long run of success.
#4 – Team Russia – 2012
At the 2012 Olympics in London, Russia was down two sets to none against Brazil and were facing the gold medal point. However, after a very skilled rally, the team fought back in the point and tied it at 24. Eventually they would win the set and the match, with this point being the turning point in for the gold medal.
#3 – Marcelo Negrao – Brazil – 1992
At the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Negrao’s Brazil were playing the Netherlands. In the gold medal point, Negrao served one of the most memorable aces in volleyball history, handing his team Olympic gold. He was recognized as the world’s best spiker by FIVB in 1992. Negrao has enjoyed a long career first in indoor then in beach volleyball.
#2 – Fabiana (“Fabi”) de Oliveira – Brazil – 2012
At the London Olympics, Fabi, who plays the libere position, brought her team back having already lost the first set to Korea, with one of the more memorable saves in Olympics history. With the ball well past the end line, Fabi tracked it down with a kick save. Eventually her team mates would help finish the point, but Fabi’s brilliant bit of defence would be the moment where the match changed in Brazil’s favour.
#1 – Vladimir Grbic – Yugoslavia – 2000
At the 2000 games in Sydney, Vladimir Grbic of then Yugoslavia, orchestrated one of the finest points in volleyball history. In the final set, Grbic tracked a ball that was clearly out of play by jumping over the advertisement boards and bumping the ball mid-air back to his team mates who put the ball back onto the Russian side. He raced back onto the court just in time to block a spike and win the point. Grbic is a member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame, having helped Yugoslavia win the gold medal.
Please remember to follow our new Twitter account @LWOSxtra. Enjoy the video!
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