Magaly Carvajal

Magaly Carvajal
Personal information
Full nameMagalys Esther Carvajal Rivera
NationalityCuban/Spanish/American
Born (1968-12-18) 18 December 1968 (age 56)
Havana, Cuba
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Number15 (Cuban national team)
National team
1985–1996 Cuba
2001–2002 Spain
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Cuba
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Team
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1994 Brazil Team
Silver medal – second place 1986 Czechoslovakia Team
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1989 Japan
Gold medal – first place 1991 Japan
Gold medal – first place 1995 Japan Team
FIVB World Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 1993 Hong Kong
Silver medal – second place 1994 Shanghai
Silver medal – second place 1996 Shanghai
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Shanghai
World Grand Champions Cup
Gold medal – first place 1993 Japan
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1987 Indianapolis Team
Gold medal – first place 1991 Havana Team
Gold medal – first place 1995 Mar del Plata Team

Magalys Carvajal Rivera (born 18 December 1968), more commonly known as Magaly Carvajal, is a retired Cuban volleyball player and two-time Olympian. As a middle blocker, she led Cuba to gold medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[1][2][3]

Carvajal also helped Cuba win the silver medal in the 1986 FIVB World Championship in Czechoslovakia and the gold medal in the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil.[2] Additionally, she won gold medals in the 1989, 1991, and 1995 FIVB World Cups in Japan.[2][4]

Carvajal was a starter at just 17 years of age with the Cuban team in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis,[5] where she won a gold medal.[6] She also participated in the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana and the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, winning a gold medal in each event.[6] After winning her second Olympic gold medal in 1996, Carvajal announced her retirement from the Cuban team.[7]

Carvajal is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle blockers of all time, standing at 1.90 meters (6'3") tall.[2] She was known for shutting down the greatest hitters in the world.[8] Her vertical jump reach of 3.35 meters (11') was rivaled only by teammate Mireya Luis.[2] Her stare was known to intimidate players at the net, and has been called by many of her peers "the look of death".[2] Carvajal was also an effective hitter.[2][9]

In 2011, Carvajal was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[2][10]

Spanish national team

Carvajal became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 1998, and played on the Spanish women's national volleyball team from 2001 to 2002.[10]

Club volleyball

Carvajal had a successful transition to the Spanish volleyball league, becoming a dominant player. In 2003–04, she led Spar Tenerife Marichal to the European Champions League title.[10]

Personal life

In June 2020, Carvajal announced on Facebook that she became a United States citizen.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Magalys Carvajal". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Magaly Carvajal". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  3. ^ Riding, Alan (7 August 1992). "Barcelona: Volleyball; It's Brains Over Bronze as Clever Cuba Reaches Final". The New York Times. p. B8. Retrieved 5 September 2024. (subscription required)
  4. ^ 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.
  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 7 September 2024. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b "Magalys Carvajal". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  7. ^ Norwood, Robyn (4 August 1996). "Present Is Golden, but Future Not Bright". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2024. (subscription required)
  8. ^ Sandoval, Clara (9 July 2018). "Olympic volleyball star Carvajal coming to Laredo for camp". Laredo Morning Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ^ Penner, Mike (7 August 1992). "Kemner Has Off Night, So Does U.S. : Women's volleyball: Without their star in top form, Americans unable to get past Cuba in semifinals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 September 2024. (subscription required)
  10. ^ a b c "Legendary blocker Magaly Carvajal of Cuba to be inducted into Volleyball Hall of Fame on Oct. 28". The Republican. 5 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  11. ^ Carvajal, Magaly (24 June 2020). "Ya soy ciudadana americana". Facebook (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.