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]
| Magaly Carvajal | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||
| Full name | Magalys Esther Carvajal Rivera | ||||
| Nationality | Cuban/Spanish/American | ||||
| Born | 18 December 1968 Havana, Cuba | ||||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||
| Volleyball information | |||||
| Position | Middle blocker | ||||
| Number | 15 (Cuban national team) | ||||
| National team | |||||
| |||||
Honours | |||||
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
editCarvajal 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
editCarvajal 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
editIn June 2020, Carvajal announced on Facebook that she became a United States citizen.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Magalys Carvajal". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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)
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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)
- ^ a b "Magalys Carvajal". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ Norwood, Robyn (4 August 1996). "Present Is Golden, but Future Not Bright". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2024. (subscription required)
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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)
- ^ 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.
- ^ Carvajal, Magaly (24 June 2020). "Ya soy ciudadana americana". Facebook (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
