| Magaly Carvajal | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||
| Full name | Magalys Esther Carvajal Rivera | ||||
| Nationality | Cuban/Spanish/American | ||||
| Born | (1968-12-18)18 December 1968 (age 56) Havana, Cuba | ||||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||
| Volleyball information | |||||
| Position | Middle blocker | ||||
| Number | 15 (Cuban national team) | ||||
| National team | |||||
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Honours | |||||
Magalys Carvajal Rivera (born 18 December 1968), more commonly known asMagaly Carvajal, is a retired Cuban volleyball player and two-time Olympian. As a middle blocker, she led Cuba to gold medals in the1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[1][2][3]
Carvajal also helped Cuba win the silver medal in the1986 FIVB World Championship in Czechoslovakia and the gold medal in the1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil.[2] Additionally, she won gold medals in the1989,1991, and1995 FIVB World Cups in Japan.[2][4]
Carvajal was a starter at just 17 years of age with the Cuban team in the1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis,[5] where she won a gold medal.[6] She also participated in the1991 Pan American Games in Havana and the1995 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 teammateMireya 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 theInternational Volleyball Hall of Fame.[2][10]
Carvajal became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 1998, and played on theSpanish women's national volleyball team from 2001 to 2002.[10]
Carvajal had a successful transition to the Spanish volleyball league, becoming a dominant player. In 2003–04, she ledSpar Tenerife Marichal to the European Champions League title.[10]
In June 2020, Carvajal announced onFacebook that she became a United States citizen.[11]
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