Now another question: who is the youngest volleyball player who attended to OG and who is youngest player won a medal in OG.
I'm guessing one of the Cubans? Or Artamanova? She was 17 when she attended her first OG
I think Gabriela Perez del Solar might be between the youngest ones. She was 16 yo, 18 days when she attended to Los Angeles 84.
Roslandy Acosta was 16 yo 6 months in Beijing 08.
It definitely was. Sheshenina was just 19, Tishchenko had surgery on both knees just a few months before OG and she could hardly even walk normally, Tebenikhina was good in the slide attack but I don't think I've ever seen a MB worse in blocking than her on high level. 16 years later it's still a mystery to me how they did it. Sure, Sokolova and Gamova played the major role, but apparently it was one of the matches where Karpol would unfold his magic. And to be fair, in the final Russia played really really well and pushed China to the edge!
Totally agree. It reminds me a little bit the WCH 2006 final, where Brazil was by far superior than Russia in more than the half of the positions. Nevertheless, Russia did it again.
But in Athens, the gap was even bigger. With all the due respect to Sheshenina, she was galaxies far to the level and experiencie of Fernanda, as well as Fofao. Two setters with many tournments over them, many nerve-wrecking matches, etc. Tebenikhina was a ghost in block in that match, as well as Tishchenko. I am almost sure Sheshenina was the top blocker from the russian side. That the setter is your top blocker in a team as Russia...it meant a lot.
About bench, well, Brazil beat Russia by far too. Karpol only had Artamonova there, who was injured. I know volleyball isnt just played with tecnic, strength, etc, but also with the brain and how to hold the emotions. Karpol had many Olympic SFs over him, it cleared helped a lot his team. So funny he was still screaming to her players even when they came tied the game many times 
and then cool down.
And last, Russia was trashed 3-0 in the preliminary round by China. Despite of all the level gap, again in the setter position (please..Kun Feng vs Sheshenina 
), Russia was just 2 points away from the gold medal.
PS: Was Elisangela injured?
Brazilian fans were really harsh towards Mari. She really didnt deserve all that hate and bashing. We shouldnt forget she was one of the youngest players in the squad, if Im not wrong, brazilian users feel free to correct me, she wasnt in any youth or junior NT, etc.
Despite of all that, she was the top scorer, her performance was was outstanding, 37 POINTS IN THE SEMIFINAL! I guess she still hold that record. And not only that, over 60% of spike efficiency 
She wasnt the player who should carry the team over her shoulders in the clutch moments. Not at all. There were players 30 yo + with many Olympics in their CV. Im not sure, but I think Mari scored more than the half of Brazilian points in the tie-break, despite of the meltdown of the 4thset.
Brazil outspiked and outblocked Russia by faaaaaar.
In the other hand, Russia wasnt expected at all to arrive to the gold medal match. For me, it was an overachievement. Just to highlight that after Gamova (34 pts) and Sokolova (24) , the thid scorer was Plotnikova with 8 
in a 5-set match.
I would have loved to watch a match between this Brazil and China. I would always remain a mystery.
I was in the way to post about that epic match too, BRA x RUS:
https://www.facebook.com/FIVBV…d/posts/10157510409069007
Finally I could watch this match full, and most important, high quality! I have watched this match with Portuguese, Chinese, Russian or English comments, but never full, with editions and so on.
One of the best matches I have ever watched live (well, on TV).
So much nostalgia from this vball level...the other SF (CHN x CUB) was also epic, but it got shadowed by the other one, which had much more drama. Oh Athens 2004...last Olympic with not only drama, but also high quality vball matches.
Display MoreI'm still going with Sweden. The most modern, richest country.
They know what are they doing. And their model for ME is the best one.
Belgium and Dutch are at lock down and they have double more death rate than Sweden.
Stress will do more damange in long terms than COVID.
Sweden is a good example in order to learn more about the corona virus crisis. But before giving an opinion, I strongly believe we have to see the whole forest, not just a tree. It means, not only the death rate or infected numbers. There are lot of variables and factors behind the Swedish case, as well as in every single country.
We should take on count not only the quality of the health system of each country in an pandemic, but also the demographics, the sociocultural factors, etc.
First, we have to see the "prepararedness". Sweden was considered between the top10 countries most prepared countries in the world in order to face a pandemic. We should also take in consideration not only the population of Sweden, and most important, its population density. That's a key difference with Belgium and the Netherlands.
And then, sure of course, we shouldnt forget the sociocultural factors.
In the other hand, we shouldnt forget that the world doesnt start and end in Europe. Sure most of the users are europeans here, but there are different worlds outside Europe.
There are a lot of countries whose health care system was already collapsed or in the brink of fall down way before the COVID19 crisis. Countries where you have to wait not days, but months in order to get a bed for a surgery, countries where a normal tuesday early morning you could see a huge queue for getting medicines, rearrange an appointment or even worse, wait in the corridor for a emergency bed.
Unfortunately, those countries cant have the privilege of underestimating the virus or see how it goes on.They must be drastic, "soviet" style in order to avoid the spread. They know they arent ready for this. This is why you can see that many of these countries have taken harsh measures even way before than Spain, Italy, USA, and so on. At least they have a bit time to "prepare" , watching the examples in Europe, but it is just a matter of time for the the total collapse. It is a chronicle of a death foretold.
I would also like to highlight that most of the population of these countries live "day by day", as I already mentioned in other post. If they dont work one day, they wont eat the following one. Despite of that, they are staying at home, waiting for a government aid that probably would never arrive. And also, watching how people from the so called first world countries go out and protest against the lockdown, while their nurses, doctors, police etc are risking their life to protect them.
Oh I really like this subject! Congrats!
I agree Molly Kreklow might be the biggest prospect that never was. Or at least, locked in the top 3.
Samara is another one. I remember her in the Southamerican Champhionship in 2008: she was simply amazing for her age. Such a good ball control! And she confirmed it in the WCH U18 the following year.
In that generation we could find many "prospects". As many have mentioned, there is Sara Klisura, Mari Horikawa, Hagglund, Haley Eckerman! I forgot her! She was a bomb in that WCH, as well as in the JWCH two years later. But too error prone. There is also Daniela Uribe, peruian MB/OPP. Damn good in U18 and U20. From that generation, there is also Ceren Kestirengoz. She was the heart of Turkey during that tournment.
And so many cubans. But for me, the biggest prospect was Rosana Giel.
Does someone know what happened with Sarah Petrausch? I remember she was a machine in the JWCH 2009. If Im not wrong, she was the top scorer of every single match Germany played.
Some days ago Trump declared that his government will close the border with Canada due the people who live there wants to go to the States. This article explains detailed why nobody who lives in Canada would go to USA.
https://globalnews.ca/news/673…ew-york-canada-responses/
In the other hand, it really amuses me how a country like El Salvador, which is one of the poorest country in the region, has been one of the first country who took an early stand against COVID-19. This centroamerican country barred entry to nearly all foreigners, required a 30-day quarantine for Salvadorans arriving from other countries, suspended schools for three weeks, and halted gatherings of 500 people or more – all before it had registered a single positive case.
Likewise, they have just released new measures in order to relief the economic impact for people and businesses.
For a three-month period, affected parties will be exempt from payments for electricity, water, mortgages and personal loans, credit cards, telephones, cable and internet, among other services.
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/h…-those-hit-by-coronavirus
https://www.csmonitor.com/Worl…els-fears-of-an-iron-fist
Canada has decided to not send their teams to Tokyo 2020. They are the first country to take such a hard decision.
I really dont understand why and how Lube is still training: http://dal15al25.gazzetta.it/2020/03/18/lube-in-palestra/
I know Le Marche (the region where Lube is from) isnt one of the most hit regions by the virus in Italy, but I strongly believe it is VERY RISKY. Juantorena said: "We dont give up! But there is few hope to resume the championship". So yes, there are still teams and player who have the (remote) hope that leagues could be reasumed.
Just as I feared, things arent going fine in Latin America. And, unfortunately, it didnt surprise me. We had so many days in order to organize a better prevention system, but it hasnt worked so far.
Just an example. Chile has been one of the last southamerican countries to close its borders, as well as one of the last to cancel flights from/to Europe and Asia and even, closing schools and universities. They only closed schools this Monday, when almost all their neighbours closed all the education institutions since 10 days ago.
Argentina and Peru are locked down since Monday. With locked down, I mean nobody cant come into/leave, not even nationals cant move from one city to another, just in emergency cases. You could only go to work if your job belongs to some (few) specific industries. The army is in the streets in order to control people respect these drastic measures. It is the only way people understand here. Not even a fee, straight to the jail if you dont hold an official certification.
Goverments took these measures because the lack of UCI beds per person is just astonishing. So, it is better to prevent.
Chilean government realize they reacted too late, so since tomorrow they are going to take even more drastic measure: 90-day state of catastrophe (https://nyti.ms/2Ude2R2). They had to do this because the cases are growing way faster than expected there.
Brazil is also another example. But I think their case has been already explained here. Mexico, it is pretty the same. The two sides from the coin.
I would only like to highlight that Latin America is a region where most of the population live the "day by day". Which means that if you dont work one day, it means you wont eat the next one. The reality is way different than in Europe, Northamerica or some Asian countries.
Governments here are trying to help that population, which, unfortunately, is the one who will suffer the most in this kind of situations.
brazilian president can fuck off straight into hell. the things he's doing these last few days are unbelievable. from lying to american press about his status to calling street manifestations and denying everything and then appearing in said manifestations and touching lots of people and cellphones while being at risk of infection. i'm so fucking angry jesus. just feel like venting here lol we're gonna have some rough weeks/months...
I know Bolsonaro is really a jerk...but what he did this weekend is just unbelievable. No words to describe him and his politcal party. He is still saying this is a "neurosis". And he declared all this just after he broke his "quarentine" during the pro (his) government manifestations. He also disagree with the Brazilian Footbal Confederation measure of suspending the the national championships...saying: "When football matches are forbidden, we are falling in hysteria".
I feel so sorry for Brazil and their beautiful people. You have to take care of yourselves and inform yourselves. The government is just painted, as we say in Spanish.
Display MoreGuess what? Tuberculosis is still number 1 cause of death worldwide when it comes to health and by the way you can be infected by it because it can be transmitted via airborne or droplet. But here you go panicking about coroca virus 😂🤣🤣🤣
TB can be cure but with a long period of time very critical, corona with big survival rate and yet you are panicking like you can't do anything. Bitches health workers are reminding everyone to do handwasing and bring alcohol and mask and always stay hydrated. Is it too hard to follow? 😂
Haters of italian team specially conegliano are all here. They are all celebrating because the league might be cancelled 😂
We are waiting for turkey to experience this.. It might come at end of turkish season and that's worst 😂
Yes, you are right. Tuberculosis is still the 1st cause of death worlwide when it comes to health. Dengue is way more dangerous than COVID19 and it has been the biggest health problem in many tropical countries (as mines). COVID19 numbers are still far from ebola ones.
Hence, do you really think it is worthy to wait until this corona virus reach the same death toll numbers of the diseases mentioned above in order to pay attention to it or react? Shall we wait that the first under 35 yo die in order to face it could happen to us too?
The best weapon in the health system is PREVENTION and KNOWLEDGE.
In the other hand, ignorance and panic are the worst.
So far, it hasnt hit in such a huge way other countries with a poorer health system than Italy (UE) or China.
Countries where it is really hard to inform that just a simple handwashing could save your life and where under 35 yo defenses are really low.
Shall we wait for that only because we arent the vulnerable ones? No.
Once again, it is a matter of empathy.
Volleyball, as well as other sports or entertainment activities, could wait.
I have been blamed many times by crovolley for disliking Conegliano players, which was not true at all. However nowadays I find them very disgraceful with their ridiculous behavior against such a serious situation
https://mobile.twitter.com/Leg…tatus/1236992674256891906
I really don't find this funny
Do you speak Italian? Have you tried to translate what it is written in the tweet? I strongly suggest you should.
It isnt a fight against the "good ones" or "mean ones", the "clever ironic" vs the ones who seem walls and dont (want to) understand, despite of the almost heroic efforts to inform.
I have lived in Italy for years. Being in almost every single corner of that wonderfully amazing country. Sure, they are a very difficult country to "rule". I have a lot of friends, who are like family for me, who live in the red zones. I was there one month ago and it is astonoshing to watch on tv how many cities look as ghost towns.
If we are priviliged to access to good information, to contrast different sources of information and get a better dimension of this situation, we MUST use it in order to spread awaraness, instead of pointing out with a finger looking for guilty ones. This has happened to China and Italy now...it could have happened to any country. Italy could have 100000 deffects (I know them pretty well), but its health service is one of the best in the world (that they love to complain, it is a different story). I really doubt other countries could have done better, speaking about not only about government, but also the PEOPLE, which is what makes a country. And Im speaking from a region where if the virus had appeared first, we would already been all extincted.
The time for judge who were idiots, careless, wtihout solidarity and responsable will arrive soon. But it isnt time to divide more than we are already divided. It is more than volleyball and meaningless discussion about good ones vs means one, Turkish vs Italian clubs...
Emphaty isnt only to try to understand or feel what the other is going through, but also to be in the shoes of the other. How would our people, government, vball federation, etc have reacted to a similar situation? We know the answer pretty inside. Let's think about that.
The grandmother of one my best friends in Italy passed away yesterday. She was 93. Sure, people could say she has already lived a lot, but a life is a life. Just be emphatic.
Solidarity not only to the italian users here, also to the chinese ones. China has shown, once again, so much resilience. Like always, just when it hits us, once the balloon burst in our faces, we notice it is real.
It is really a pity that in such an emergecy situation, instead of spreading awareness, emphaty and solidarity, human beings are still able to show the worse for themselves. Once again, in such an almost unbelieveble way, such a topic as the COVID19 has became an endless fight about Turkish x Italian vball 
It is not time to pretend to be the first of the class and say: Do you see it? I told you! I told you that before, I am clever! Or try to be ironic in order to look funny. Even jokes, with 0% empathy, that happened when the virus was only in China. So many double standards...
If someone is not informed, instead of making fun of him, try to inform him. Stop spreading terror, panic and misleading titles.
I agree: we should ask ourselves what we are doing to fight agaisnt this?
Just because it doesnt hit us, it doesnt mean we should not take this in consideration. It is an emphaty topic.
Umberto Eco was so right: "I social media danno diritto di parola a legioni di imbecili".
I think Fabiola has all the right to say she is working hard and that she is aiming for a spot in the NT.
Nevertheless, the decision isnt made by her, but the ones who are head of Brazil NT. Knowing them, it would really not surprise me if she is included in the final roster to Tokyo.
Just hope this will raise the competitiveness in the setter position.
She was in London. I don't remember much of her playing but I do remember she entered for the double sub during the quarterfinals against Russia, especially in the tie break, and had two chances to end the match but didn't score.
I remember that! But the sets from Fernandinha were really TRASH in that point. If Im not wrong, one set was from Thaisa.
Sorry for the offtopic. Then I also dont remember so much from her in London.
I know Flamengo is one of the bottom teams of the league as well as one of the ones which has been showing the lowest performance.
Nevertheless, I would like to highlight the performance of the young argentinian setter Victoria Mayer. Sure, she is super young and she usually has the typic mistakes from a rookie. Bur beyond that, I do see a lot of talent from her. She has that smell, "fiuto" from a setter.
For me she looks like a great setter in the making. Hope she could develop well her career.
I think he's talking about Artamonova going to London.
AFAIK she went to London with a injury and didn't play a single match. She also went to Beijing after being already retired...wasn't playing well in years at least in terms of NT
When I mentioned Artamonova case, I wanted to point out she went to the Olympics more than one when she wasnt part of the whole process, the whole Olympic cycle. She came back more than one time in order to get the so desired gold medal. She wasnt great like during the 90s and early 00s, but she was called cuz she was quite solid in reception.
She did almost all the dirty job in the IOQT in Japan in 2012, where Russia finished undefeated and she was starter.
She went injured to Athens 2004. I really dont remember her playing any match. I remember her always in the bench. Actually, praying in the epic SF match against Brazil.
In London 2012, she played some matches as starter. Like it was pointed out, she did a great job with Kryuchkova in reception. But on the main matches, she was benched by Sokolova.
Oh gosh. Even though I do love Piccinini, I do consider she is a symbol of not only Italian vball, but of world vball, I really dont think she will be an asset for her NT. Her skills could still have a good impact, but I am not sure if it will be good for the lockeroom spirit.
I think she is better now than 4 years. She could have gone to Rio, but she stepped down. Which were her reasons back then?
This story remembers a little bit what happened with Artamonova-Estes.
