Mireya Luis elected vice president of FIVB

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).