Magaly Carvajal

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]

Magaly Carvajal
Personal information
Full nameMagalys Esther Carvajal Rivera
NationalityCuban/Spanish/American
Born (1968-12-18) 18 December 1968
Havana, Cuba
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Number15 (Cuban national team)
National team
1985–1996 Cuba
2001–2002 Spain
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Cuba
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Team
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1994 Brazil Team
Silver medal – second place1986 CzechoslovakiaTeam
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place1989 Japan
Gold medal – first place1991 Japan
Gold medal – first place1995 JapanTeam
FIVB World Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 1993 Hong Kong
Silver medal – second place 1994 Shanghai
Silver medal – second place 1996 Shanghai
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Shanghai
World Grand Champions Cup
Gold medal – first place1993 Japan
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1987 IndianapolisTeam
Gold medal – first place1991 HavanaTeam
Gold medal – first place1995 Mar del PlataTeam

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]

Carvajal participated in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, and the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, winning a gold medal in each event.[3]

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.[4] 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] As a starter for the Cuban national team, she was also an effective hitter.[2]

In 2011, Carvajal was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[2][5]

Spanish national team

Carvajal became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 1998, and played on the Spanish women's national volleyball team from 2001 to 2002.[5]

Club volleyball

Carvajal 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.[5]

Personal life

In June 2020, Carvajal announced on Facebook that she became a United States citizen.[6]

References
  1. "Magalys Carvajal". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. "Magaly Carvajal". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  3. "Magalys Carvajal". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. 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.
  5. "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.
  6. Carvajal, Magaly (24 June 2020). "Ya soy ciudadana americana". Facebook (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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