The Cuba men's national volleyball team (Spanish: Selección masculina de voleibol de Cuba) represents Cuba in international volleyball competitions and friendly matches, governed by Federación Cubana De Voleibol. Cuba in the 1976 Summer Olympics won their first bronze medal. In FIVB competitions, the national team won one gold each at World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, World League and Challenger Cup. Cuba also attained two silver and two bronze World Championship medals and have won the NORCECA Championship 15 times with a 6-peat record.
Results edit
Olympic Games edit
- 1972 – 10th place
- 1976 –
Bronze medal - 1980 – 7th place
- 1984 – Qualified but withdrew due 1984 boycott
- 1988 – Quafified but withdrew due 1988 boycott
- 1992 – 4th place
- 1996 – 6th place
- 2000 – 7th place
- 2004 – Didnt Qualify
- 2008 – Didnt Qualify
- 2012 – Didnt Qualify
- 2016 – 11th place
- 2020 – Didnt Qualify
- 2024 – To be determined
World Championship edit
- 1956 – 19th place
- 1966 – 17th place
- 1970 – 13th place
- 1974 – 8th place
- 1978 –
Bronze medal - 1982 – 10th place
- 1986 – 5th place
- 1990 –
Silver medal - 1994 – 4th place
- 1998 – Bronze medal
- 2002 – 19th place
- 2006 – 15th place
- 2010 – Silver medal
- 2014 – 11th place
- 2018 – 18th place
- 2022 – 14th place
- 2025 – Qualified
World Cup edit
- 1969 – 9th place
- 1977 –
Bronze medal - 1981 –
Silver medal - 1989 –
Gold medal - 1991 – Silver medal
- 1995 – 6th place
- 1999 – Silver medal
- 2011 – 5th place
World Grand Champions Cup edit
World League edit
- 1991 –
Silver medal - 1992 – Silver medal
- 1993 – 4th place
- 1994 – Silver medal
- 1995 –
Bronze medal - 1996 – 4th place
- 1997 – Silver medal
- 1998 –
Gold medal - 1999 – Silver medal
- 2000 – 8th place
- 2001 – 5th place
- 2002 – 13th place
- 2003 – 13th place
- 2004 – 7th place
- 2005 – Bronze medal
- 2006 – 7th place
- 2007 – 7th place
- 2008 – 10th place
- 2009 – 4th place
- 2010 – 4th place
- 2011 – 8th place
- 2012 – Bronze medal
- 2013 – 13th place
- 2014 – 21st place
- 2015 – 18th place
- 2016 – 22nd place
- 2017 – Withdrew
Nations League edit
Challenger Cup edit
- 2018 – 4th place
- 2019 – Silver medal
- 2022 – Gold medal
- 2023 – Participated in Nations League
Pan American Games edit
- 1959 – 7th place
- 1967 – Bronze medal
- 1971 – Gold medal
- 1975 – Gold medal
- 1979 – Gold medal
- 1983 – Silver medal
- 1987 – Silver medal
- 1991 – Gold medal
- 1995 – Bronze medal
- 1999 – Gold medal
- 2003 – Silver medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2011 – Silver medal
- 2015 – 5th place
- 2019 – Silver medal
NORCECA Championship edit
- 1969 – Gold medal
- 1971 – Gold medal
- 1973 – Silver medal
- 1975 – Gold medal
- 1977 – Gold medal
- 1979 – Gold medal
- 1981 – Gold medal
- 1983 – Bronze medal
- 1985 – Silver medal
- 1987 – Gold medal
- 1989 – Gold medal
- 1991 – Gold medal
- 1993 – Gold medal
- 1995 – Gold medal
- 1997 – Gold medal
- 1999 – Silver medal
- 2001 – Gold medal
- 2003 – Bronze medal
- 2005 – Silver medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2009 – Gold medal
- 2011 – Gold medal
- 2013 – Bronze medal
- 2015 – Silver medal
- 2017 – did not participate
- 2019 – Gold medal
- 2021 – 4th place
- 2023 – Bronze medal
Pan-American Cup edit
- 2006 – 5th place
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2014 – Gold medal
- 2016 – Gold medal
- 2017 – Bronze medal
- 2018 – Bronze medal
- 2019 – Gold medal
- 2021 – Withdrew
- 2022 – Gold medal
America's Cup edit
- 1998 – Bronze medal
- 1999 – 4th place
- 2000 – Gold medal
- 2001 – Silver medal
- 2005 – Bronze medal
- 2007 – Bronze medal
- 2008 – Gold medal
Central American and Caribbean Games edit
- 1930 – Silver medal
- 1935 – Bronze medal
- 1938 – Bronze medal
- 1946 – Gold medal
- 1950 – Silver medal
- 1954 – Bronze medal
- 1962 – 4th place
- 1966 – Gold medal
- 1970 – Gold medal
- 1974 – Gold medal
- 1978 – Gold medal
- 1982 – Gold medal
- 1986 – Gold medal
- 1990 – Gold medal
- 1993 – Gold medal
- 1998 – Gold medal
- 2002 – Did not participate
- 2006 – Silver medal
- 2010 – Did not participate
- 2014 – Bronze medal
- 2018 – 4th place
Goodwill Games edit
Team edit
Current squad edit
The following is the Cuban roster in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Men's Olympic Qualification Tournaments
Head coach: 
Jesus Cruz
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | 2022-23 Club | 2023-24 Club | 2024-25 Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | José Masso | 2 December 1997 | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) |  Sporting CP |
 VfB Friedrichshafen |
VfB Friedrichshafen
|
| 2 | Osniel Melgarejo | 18 December 1997 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) |  Allianz Milano |
Allianz Milano
| |
| 5 | Javier Concepción | 26 December 1997 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) |  Poitiers |
Poitiers
| |
| 6 | Christian Thondike Mejías | 28 May 2001 | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) |  CS Dinamo București |
 Cizre Belediyespor
| |
| 7 | Yonder Garcia(L) | 23 February 1993 | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) |  Al Ahly |
Al Ahly
| |
| 10 | Miguel Gutiérrez | 21 February 1997 | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | Volley Prata |
Altekma SK
| |
| 11 | Lyvan Taboada | 4 October 1998 | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | Știința Explorări Baia Mare |
SCM Zalău
| |
| 12 | Jesus Herrera | 4 April 1995 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia |
Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia
| |
| 17 | Roamy Alonso | 24 July 1997 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | Gas Sales Piacenza |
Gas Sales Piacenza
| |
| 18 | Miguel Ángel López | 25 March 1997 | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) |  Sada Cruzeiro |
Sada Cruzeiro |
 Panasonic Panthers
|
| 22 | Jose Miguel Gutierrez | 27 October 2001 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 73 kg (161 lb) | Top Volley Cisterna |
Prisma Taranto
| |
| 23 | Marlon Yant | 23 May 2001 | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | Cucine Lube Civitanova |
Cucine Lube Civitanova |
 Zenit Saint Petersburg
|
| 24 | Alain Gorguet | 28 December 1993 | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | Free Agent | Free Agent | |
| 33 | Alexis Wilson | 23 October 2003 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | Free Agent |  Tianjin Food Group
|
Dream Team Squad edit
After 2001, many players defected from Cuba seeking better life conditions. Some of them excelled during their pro career, being more often considered the best of their positions. The following list follow 15 men throughout that period of time, that one way or another make history and were called Dream team squad.
Head coach: Gilberto Herrera
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Spike | Block | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilfredo Leon Venero | 31 July 1993 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | 380 cm (150 in) | 346 cm (136 in) | Sir Safety Perugia
|
| 13 | Robertlandy Simon | 11 June 1987 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 114 kg (251 lb) | 389 cm (153 in) | 326 cm (128 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova
|
| 4 | Yoandry Leal | 31 August 1988 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | 107 kg (236 lb) | 371 cm (146 in) | 348 cm (137 in) | Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena
|
| 5 | Osmany Juantorena | 12 August 1985 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 370 cm (150 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | Cucine Lube Civitanova
|
| 14 | Raydel Hierrezuelo | 14 July 1987 | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | 340 cm (130 in) | 335 cm (132 in) |  Foynikas Syros
|
| 9 | Michael Sánchez | 5 June 1986 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | 365 cm (144 in) | 340 cm (130 in) |  Korean Air Jumbos
|
| 19 | Fernando Hernandez | 11 September 1989 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | 358 cm (141 in) | 339 cm (133 in) | Halkbank
|
| 15 | Oreol Camejo | 22 July 1986 | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | 354 cm (139 in) | 326 cm (128 in) | Zenit Saint Petersburg
|
| 1 | Leonel Marshall | 25 September 1979 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | 383 cm (151 in) | 353 cm (139 in) | LPR Piacenza
|
| 7 | Angel Dennis | 13 June 1977 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | 360 cm (140 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Sporting CP
|
| 14 | Ihosvany Hernández | 6 June 1972 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 103 kg (227 lb) | 368 cm (145 in) | 349 cm (137 in) | Retired |
2016 Finland rape incident edit
Eight members of the Cuban national men's volleyball team, including the team's captain, were held in Tampere, Finland on suspicion of aggravated gang rape of a 35-year-old Finnish woman,[1][2] as of July 2016. Two of them later had their charges dismissed.[3] The incident took place in the Hotel Ilves at Tampere where the Olympics-bound Cuban team were staying. The arrested players were scheduled to play with the Cuban team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[4]
On 16 August, the six team members still remaining in custody were charged with aggravated rape at Pirkanmaa District Court[5] and the proceedings started on 29 August.[6] On 20 September, four of the men, Osmany Uriarte, Rolando Cepeda Abreu, Ricardo Norberto Calvo, and Abraham Alfonso Gavilán were given five-year jail sentences, while Luis Sosa Sierra was facing a prison term of three and a half years.[7][8] All men appealed, and on 30 June 2017, the Turku court of appeal decreased the length of all sentences and lifted the sentence of Sosa Sierra.[9]
According to The New York Times, the Cuban Volleyball Association stated early on that the athletes’ behavior was counter to the “discipline the sense of honor and respect that govern our sport and society”.[10]
In June 2017, all players convicted for aggravated rape appealed, and sentences were reduced in the case of Uriarte, Alfonso, Calvo, and the ex-captain Abreu. Sosa Sierra was released as he was found not guilty due to lack of evidence, and he received compensation from the government of Finland of 200,000 euros for financial and reputational harm.[11]
Kit providers edit
The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Cuba national volleyball team.
| Period | Kit provider |
|---|---|
| 2000– | Adidas Puma |
Sponsorship edit
Primary sponsors include: main sponsors like Honda.
References edit
- ^ Kuubalaisten raiskausjutussa on käynnissä viimeinen päivä – Tämä jutusta tiedetään Archived 2016-10-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish) Aamulehti
- ^ Syyttäjä: Kuubalaiset käyttivät joukkoraiskauksessa väkivaltaa ja kuvasivat teon (in Finnish) Iltalehti
- ^ "Two Cuban volleyballers released, six still held". Yleisradio. 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- ^ "Members of Cuba's volleyball team detained on rape suspicions". Yleisradio. 2016-07-03. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- ^ Mansikka, Heli (2016-08-16). "Kuubalaisia lentopalloilijoita vastaan nostettiin syyte – kaikkia kuutta epäillään törkeästä raiskauksesta" [Charged pressed against Cuban volleyball players – all six suspected of aggravated rape] (in Finnish). Yleisradio. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
- ^ Jansson, Kaisu (2016-08-29). "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden oikeudenkäynti alkaa Tampereella" [Cuban volleyballers' trial begins in Tampere] (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- ^ Viidelle kuubalaispelaajalle vankeustuomio - raiskasivat naisen törkeästi Tampereella (in Finnish) Iltalehti
- ^ Oppman, Patrick (20 September 2016). "5 Cuban volleyball players convicted of rape in Finland". CNN. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Kuubalaisten lentopalloilijoiden raiskaustuomiot lyhenivät hovissa, yhden syyte hylättiin".
- ^ Bilefsky, Dan; Kuosa, Mari-Leena (20 September 2016). "5 Cuban Volleyball Players Convicted of Rape in Finland". The New York Times.
- ^ "Finnish woman's gang rape was filmed — documents reveal what happened that night in the Tampere hotel" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.