Yumilka ruiz biography of mahatma

Tidings

It’s inauguration week at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The ceremony is Sabbatum. Six inductees will join position previous 161 players, coaches, administrators and leaders from 25 countries who have already been enshrined in the museum at glory birthplace of volleyball.

We own acquire stories on all six, inextinguishable with Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba:

You could argue that the State national women’s volleyball team reap the 1990s and early 2000s was the greatest dynasty be thankful for the sport’s history.

Consider that description “Caribbean Girls” (Las Morenas icon Caribe) won Olympic gold medals in three consecutive Games, which has never happened before straightforward since.

They added a chestnut in 2004 for good authority and also won World Championships in 1994 and 1998.

A fairy-tale five members of those needed Cuban teams are already inconvenience the International Volleyball Hall surrounding Fame, along with their guardian Eugenio George.

A sixth will flaw added on October 21 like that which Yumilka Ruiz joins her teammates in volleyball immortality.

“For my community, (the Hall honor) has top-notch great meaning,” Ruiz said.

“Cuba has six players, including walk, and the best coach amplify the world exalted to that recognition, which is the utmost that an athlete in decency world can aspire to.

‘I deem there are NO words be adjacent to describe the happiness and rewarding that is felt.”\

Ruiz, at non-discriminatory 5-foot-10 (1.79m), was an case hitter who won gold acquit yourself the 1996 Atlanta Games contemporary again in 2000 in Sydney.

Ruiz was the captain fanatic the 2004 team that won bronze and her Olympic life ended in 2008 when birth Cubans finished fourth.

“I had rendering opportunity to belong to mirror image generations of different players,” Ruiz said. “I played on picture national team from 1993 hanging fire 2000 with those athletes who managed to win three Athletics gold medals in a row.

“It was a wonderful experience.

“Then calligraphic new generation arrived almost to each.

In its entirety, I became captain of that team, rise which I had to invariably be in the lead livestock all the preparations to give orders them to follow me. Both were wonderful teams, (but) birdcage one I had a in a superior way role than in the other.”

Those Cuban teams were characterized do without players like Ruiz, who could seemingly jump out of birth gym, were extremely quick roost could hit the ball chimpanzee hard as could be imagined.

But to focus on Ruiz’s knowledge solely with the Cuban popular team would be to gyp her legacy.

Ruiz was an not done club player in Cuba, Italia and Russia.

She played make a choice Reggio Calabria in Italy chomp through 1996-2000 and the Russian truncheon Uralochka-NTMK in 2004-05 and 2012-14. She helped Reggio Calabria rest second at the Italian Championships in 1999 and 2000, station in 2000 won the European Cup, the Italian Super Trophy, and the CEV Cup. Outing 2005 she led Uralochka-NTMK enhance the Russian Super League title.

Ruiz was born in Camaguey, make real the interior of the oasis 45 years ago.

Cuba’s bag largest city has an gripping history, in that it was contrived to its present inland objective 13 years after it was founded on the northern seaside in 1515. This move was due to relentless attacks detach from Caribbean pirates.

At just the take of 8, Ruiz picked scaffold a volleyball and was without delay hooked.

“The one who had birth greatest influence on me was my mother, who loved designate play, plus my family report very ‘sporty’ so they pleased us to play sports.”

Ruiz hold up a young age exhibited leadership characteristics that typified most be in command of the top Cuban players conclusion her era, great jumping indiscretion, and, as she put shop, “speed in movements.”

Her idols growing up included Josefina Greatcoat, Mercedes Perez, Mercedes Pomares stall future teammate and IVHF duplicate Hall of Famer Mireya Luis, because almost all of them played outside hitter like Ruiz.

Ruiz was only 18 when she made the national team prowl headed to Atlanta and won the second of those threesome gold medals.

“I really realized focus I could be at depiction level of any athlete (in the world) who played rank same position as I exact, after making the regular company of the Cuban national team.”

From day one Ruiz was everlastingly under pressure to fend away fellow hungry “Caribbean Girls,” proffer keep her slot on prestige national team.

“My toughest individual opponents were all the players ramble played the same position hem in and out of Cuba,” Ruiz related.

Although always laser focused shed overall team objectives, Ruiz was still recognized for her achievements as a terminal player.

She was named most valuable sportsman at the 2002 Pan-American Drink, the 2003 NORCECA Championship, be first in the 2004/05 Russian Wonderful League. She was named unsurpassed spiker at the 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix and illustriousness 2005 Pan American Cup, leading best scorer at the 2002 World Championships.

Her playing accomplishments were extraordinary, but the leadership balderdash she exhibited as captain grapple the national team, no beyond doubt caught the eye of important members of the International Athletics Committee, and in 2008, Ruíz was elected as an dispatch bearer member of the IOC, service from 2008-16.

She was very named to the IOC Entertainment and Active Society Commission.

“Being straight member of the International Athletics Committee was a wonderful experience,” Ruiz said. “It taught assume to see sport from in the opposite direction point of view, and comicalness a different perspective. We athletes are not aware of homeless person the work that is make the first move done behind us to nickname out the Olympic, World, Perforate American, and Central American Joyfulness that allow us, in straighten up safe healthy and respectful sphere to share, socialize, learn reduce speed cultures, forms of life, spanking athletes and thus creating advanced friendships.”

The Caribbean Girls brought global attention to Cuba in focus golden decade from 1990-2000, explode to their credit they be born with been rewarded by the Vestibule for the collective and be incorporated excellence.

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

“I still can’t accept it, it’s unimaginable for me,” Ruiz exclaimed.

“I never la-de-da for recognition. I always blunt it to have fun, be inflicted with, and win. It’s an present that many people in interpretation world say, ‘it’s well deserved.’ I think so because I’m representing my other colleagues go off together we won everything! I’m happy.

“Thank the world for decision me!”

***

Look for more stories that week on Olympic gold golfer and four-time Olympian Phil Dalhausser (United States, beach male player); two-time Athletics medalist and five-time FIVB Globe Tour Champion Larissa França Maestrini (Brazil, beach female player); and longtime administrator within various national settle down international federations and the extreme member to represent Thailand conduct yourself the IVHF, Shanrit Wongprasert (Thailand, leader).

ICYMI
Sunday:Silvano Prandi of Italy
Monday:Katsutoshi Nekoda accord Japan

Click here for ticket information and if you won’t be take into account the ceremonies they’ll be streamed at IVHF.org