Mireya Luis elected vice president of FIVB
HAVANA, Cuba, May 4, 2018 – The legendary Cuban former player
Mireya Luis has been unanimously elected executive vice
president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
following a proposal submitted by the president of the entity,
Dr. Ary S. Graça F°.
Luis was proposed by NORCECA President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz,
to fill the vacancy in the confederation quota created by the
resignation of Marta Centeno de Sajche of Guatemala.
Speaking from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, site of the meeting of the
Executive Committee and Board of Administration, the Olympic
champion of Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000
expressed “special gratitude to my beloved Commander in Chief
Fidel Castro for the achievements attained in my sport career.”
The captain for almost two decades of the spectaculars Morenas
del Caribe, owners of the world titles in 1994 and 1998, added:
“I accept this responsibility with humble and decorum on behalf
of my country, my coaches and teammates.”
“I also want to thank to all those who contributed to my
achievements, the province of Camaguey, the Cuban Volleyball
Federation and the NORCECA Confederation”, added the winner of
the gold medals at the World Cup (1989, 1991, 1995) and the Big
Four Tournaments (1992 and 1994).
Considered among the best players in the history of the sport,
she also has multiple medals won in Grand Prix tournaments, Pan
American Games. Central American and Caribbean Games, and the
World Junior in 1985, when Cuba stepped to the highest position
of the podium.
Before turning fifteen she debuted at the X Pan American Games
in Caracas 1983 and contributed to the islanders’s triumph and
since then she displayed the kind of dedication she showed
especially in Praga 1986 –just three weeks after she became a
mother and contributed to the silver at the world championship.
Under the experienced eyes of Eugenio George and Antonio Perdomo,
Mireya learned how to compensate her lack of size (just 1.75
meters) for this sport relying on her impressive leaping ability
to attack to put a show deserving the adulation of his people
and the fans around the world.
In recognition to her outstanding career she was elected among
the best Cuban athletes of the Twentieth Century and inducted
into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA.
Following her retirement from the sport in 2000 she has been
dedicated with enthusiasm to the Cuban sport at both national
and international level.
She belongs to the executive group of the FCV, was part of the
Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee for
two cycles and since 2012 she is a member of the Executive
Committee and Board of Administration of the North, Central
American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA). |