Mexico City, Mexico.- The Cuban Yumilka Ruiz has been presented among the candidates to enter the International Volleyball Hall of Fame class 2023. The famous “Morena del Caribe” could be the fifth Cuban to integrate the select space.
Yumilka Ruiz thrilled lovers of this discipline from 1996 to 2008 when Cuban volleyball enjoyed its best years. They were practically unbeatable on the courts. Ruiz participated in several of these feats and she hung two Olympic gold medals (achieved in Atlanta and Sydney) and a bronze (Athens 2004) around her neck.
The iconic number 1 of the Cuban national team also holds the title of world champion in 1998 among other achievements. On the court, she stood out for her powerful shots and great jump skills.
After the retirement of many of the “Spectacular Morenas del Caribe”, Yumilka became the captain and main figure of the renewed squad. Although the new cast did not have the spectacularity of its predecessors, Yumilka could not have done better: at the 2002 World Championship in Argentina, she won the award for top scorer in the contest. Then in the North – Central American and Caribbean Tournament (NORCECA) in 2003, the 25-year-old Cuban was nominated as the most valuable with attack from forward and back positions as well.
In 2004, despite the fact that Cuba finished fourth, the captain took the trophy for the best spiker.
Other Cubans in the Hall of Fame
The first Cuban to join this select group was rule torres, in the year 2001. Three years later the legendary Mireya Luis entered and in the promotions of 2011 and 2019, Magaly Carvajal and Mirka Francia respectively. The last to enter was Taismary Agüero, in 2021.
On the side of the coaches they selected Eugenio George, the man who guided these women during the best years of Cuban volleyball.
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