Mireya Luis

Alejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández, often referred to as Mireya (born 25 August 1967, in Camagüey),[1] is a Cuban former volleyball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She won gold medals at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics with the Cuban women's national volleyball team.[2][1] She was the captain of the Cuban team from the late 1980s until her retirement.[3]

Mireya Luis
Personal information
Full nameAlejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández
NationalityCuban
Born (1967-08-25) 25 August 1967
Camagüey, Cuba
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight69 kg (152 lb)
Spike339 cm (133 in)
Block325 cm (128 in)
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Number3
National team
1983–2001 Cuba
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Cuba
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1992 BarcelonaTeam
Gold medal – first place1996 AtlantaTeam
Gold medal – first place2000 SydneyTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place1994 BrazilTeam
Gold medal – first place1998 JapanTeam
Silver medal – second place1986 CzechoslovakiaTeam
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place1989 Japan
Gold medal – first place1991 Japan
Gold medal – first place1995 JapanTeam
Silver medal – second place1985 Japan
World Grand Champions Cup
Gold medal – first place1993 Japan
Silver medal – second place1997 Japan
FIVB World Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place1993 Hong Kong
Gold medal – first place2000 Quezon City
Silver medal – second place1994 Shanghai
Silver medal – second place1996 Shanghai
Silver medal – second place1997 Kobe
Bronze medal – third place1995 Shanghai
Bronze medal – third place1998 Hong Kong
Friendship Games
Gold medal – first place1984 Varna
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1983 CaracasTeam
Gold medal – first place1987 IndianapolisTeam
Gold medal – first place1991 HavanaTeam
Gold medal – first place1995 Mar del PlataTeam
Silver medal – second place1999 WinnipegTeam
NORCECA Volleyball Championship
Gold medal – first place1985 Santiago de los Caballeros
Gold medal – first place1987 Havana
Gold medal – first place1989 San Juan
Gold medal – first place1991 Regina
Gold medal – first place1993 Colorado Springs
Gold medal – first place1995 Santo Domingo
Gold medal – first place1997 Caguas
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place1998 MaracaiboTeam

In 2004, Mireya was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[2]

Career

Pan American Games

At the age of 10, Mireya started playing volleyball.[2] At 16, Mireya joined the Cuban national team for the 1983 Pan American Games, winning first place.[4] She competed in the 1987 Pan American Games, again helping Cuba win the tournament.[1] She won additional gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1991 and 1995.[1]

World Cups and World Championships

In 1985, Mireya won a silver medal with the Cuban team at the FIVB World Cup, where the Chinese led by Lang Ping won the gold.[4] In that tournament, Mireya was named the "best attacker".[4] In 1989, she won her first FIVB World Cup gold medal with Cuba, and was awarded as the "best spiker" and "most valuable player".[4] She won additional gold medals at the 1991 and 1995 FIVB World Cup, being selected as the "best attacker" in both tournaments and the "most valuable player" in 1995.[4]

Mireya led Cuba to the silver medal in the 1986 FIVB World Championship, and subsequently led Cuba to gold medals in the 1994 and 1998 FIVB World Championship.[5]

Olympic Games

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 in 1992 in Barcelona.[4] She would win her second Olympic gold medal in 1996 in Atlanta.[4] Mireya achieved her third Olympic gold medal in 2000 in Sydney, and soon after retired in 2001.[4]

Mireya's vertical jump

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.[6][2]

FIVB

In 2018, Mireya was unanimously elected to the position of executive vice president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).[7]

Personal life

Mireya has a daughter, Idanaisi, and a grandson, Darío.[8]

Individual awards
  • 1985 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Best Attacker"
  • 1989 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Most Valuable Player"
  • 1989 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Best Spiker"
  • 1991 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Best Attacker"
  • 1991 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Spirit of Fight"
  • 1994 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship "Best Spiker"
  • 1993 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix "Most Valuable Player"
  • 1995 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Most Valuable Player"
  • 1995 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup "Best Spiker"

References
  1. "Mireya Luis". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. "Mireya Luis". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. Nacianceno, Alfonso (27 June 2017). "Mireya, a well-grounded Cuban athlete". Granma. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. Coll Untoria, Jorge Luis (24 April 2023). "Mireya Luis' great jump". Oncubanews.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  5. "'The Spectacular Caribbean Girls': Cuba's three volleyball golds in a row". Olympics.com. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  6. Gunston, Jo (22 September 2022). "Volleyball: The most asked questions about women's indoor volleyball". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  7. "Mireya Luis elected vice president of FIVB". CubaSi. 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  8. Arce Montero, Angélica; Suñol Robles, Jorge (10 May 2021). "Las 3 del día: La impresionante historia de maternidad de Mireya Luis (+ Podcast)". Cubadebate.cu (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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