Alejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández (born 25 August 1967)[1] is aCuban formervolleyball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She won gold medals at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics with theCuban women's national volleyball team.[2][1] She was the captain of the Cuban team from the late 1980s until her retirement.[3]
In 2004, Mireya was inducted into theInternational Volleyball Hall of Fame.[2]
At the age of 10, Mireya started playing volleyball.[2] At 16, Mireya joined the Cuban national team for the1983 Pan American Games, winning a gold medal.[4] She competed at the1987 Pan American Games, again helping Cuba win the tournament.[1][5] She won additional gold medals at the Pan American Games in1991 and1995.[1]
In 1985, Mireya won a silver medal with the Cuban team at theFIVB World Cup, where the Chinese led byLang Ping won the gold.[4] In that tournament, Mireya was named the "best attacker".[4] In 1989, she won her firstFIVB World Cup gold medal with Cuba, and was awarded as the "best spiker" and "most valuable player".[4] She won additional gold medals at the1991 and1995 FIVB World Cup, being selected as the "best attacker" in both tournaments and the "most valuable player" in 1995.[4][6]
Mireya led Cuba to the silver medal at the1986 FIVB World Championship,[7] and subsequently led Cuba to gold medals at the1994 and1998 FIVB World Championship.[8]
After a brief hiatus due to a knee injury that required surgery in 1990, Mireya resumed play and became a dominant force on the team.[4] Mireya won her first Olympic gold medal in1992 inBarcelona.[4] She would win her second Olympic gold medal in1996 inAtlanta.[9][4] Although she contemplated retiring after winning her second Olympic gold medal, she continued playing for the national team.[10] Mireya achieved her third Olympic gold medal in2000 inSydney, and soon after retired in 2001.[4]
Mireya was known for her spectacular jumping power, reaching 3.39 meters (11'1"), more than any other player, though being only 1.75 meters (5'9") tall.[11][2]
In 2018, Mireya was unanimously elected to the position of executive vice president of theInternational Volleyball Federation (FIVB).[12]
Mireya has a daughter, Idanaisi, and a grandson, Darío.[13]
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by First Award | Most Valuable Player of FIVB World Grand Prix 1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by First Award | Best Spiker of FIVB World Grand Prix 1993,1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Best Spiker of FIVB World Championship 1994 | Succeeded by |
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