Wilfredo León

Wilfredo León Venero (born 31 July 1993) is a professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for the Polish PlusLiga club, Bogdanka LUK Lublin. Born in Cuba, he represents Poland at the international level. He was a member of his country of birth's national team from 2007 to 2012.

Considered by many as one of a kind, he led Cuba to the silver medal at the 2010 World Championship held in Italy, alongside Yoandy Leal and Robertlandy Simon. He is considered one of the leaders of the "Generation of Miracle" of Cuban volleyball by many experts.

Personal life

León was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba on July 31, 1993. He is the son of Wilfredo León Hechavarría and Alina Venero Boza (former volleyball player). He studied at Escuela Nacional del Voleibol Cubano. León lived in Poland for a while with his Polish girlfriend. On June 24, 2016, he married Małgorzata (born Gronkowska). On May 13, 2017, their daughter Natalia was born.

Career

León started to play when he was seven. His first coach was his mother, Alina. León debuted in the Cuban national team on May 24, 2008, in Düsseldorf, aged 14 years and 10 months. He won the title of Best Receiver at World League 2009. On July 31, 2009, he won a silver medal in the World U21 Championship (after losing the final against Brazil). In 2009, the Cuban national team, with Leon, won the title of NORCECA Champion (and three individual awards), and repeated this success in 2011. After losing the final against Brazil, Cuba won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championship. He was the youngest captain of the national team (he was 17). In 2012, he won the bronze medal at the World League.

In 2013, León left Cuba to play in a club outside of his homeland, losing the possibility of playing for the Cuban national team. He joined Russian club Zenit Kazan in 2014, where he won multiple CEV Champions League titles, national leagues, and cups. He also played part-time with Qatar club Al Rayyan in 2015 and 2016. In September 2018, León joined Italian team SIR Safety Perugia.

On July 14, 2015, León received Polish citizenship, and five years later he became fully eligible to play for the Poland national team.

On 10 August 2024, he won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games held in Paris.

Honours

Club

* CEV Champions League
** 2014–15 – with Zenit Kazan
** 2015–16 – with Zenit Kazan
** 2016–17 – with Zenit Kazan
** 2017–18 – with Zenit Kazan
* FIVB Club World Championship
** Poland 2017 – with Zenit Kazan
** Betim 2022 – with Sir Safety Perugia
** Bangalore 2023 – with Sir Safety Perugia
* CEV Challenge Cup
** 2024–25 – with Bogdanka LUK Lublin
* Domestic
** 2008–09 Cuban Championship, with Capitalinos
** 2009–10 Cuban Championship, with Capitalinos
** 2010–11 Cuban Championship, with Orientales de Santiago
** 2014–15 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2014–15 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
** 2015–16 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2015–16 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2015–16 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
** 2016–17 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2016–17 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2016–17 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
** 2017–18 Russian SuperCup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2017–18 Russian Cup, with Zenit Kazan
** 2017–18 Russian Championship, with Zenit Kazan
** 2018–19 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2019–20 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2020–21 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2021–22 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2022–23 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2023–24 Italian SuperCup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2023–24 Italian Cup, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2023–24 Italian Championship, with Sir Safety Perugia
** 2024–25 Polish Championship, with Bogdanka LUK Lublin

Individual awards

* 2009: FIVB World League – Best server
* 2009: NORCECA Championship – Best spiker
* 2009: NORCECA Championship – Most valuable player
* 2011: Pan American Games – Most valuable player
* 2011: NORCECA Championship – Best spiker
* 2011: NORCECA Championship – Best scorer
* 2015: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker
* 2015: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player
* 2015: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker
* 2016: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker
* 2016: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player
* 2016: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker
* 2017: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker
* 2017: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker
* 2018: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker
* 2019: CEV European Championship – Best outside spiker
* 2022: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker
* 2023: CEV European Championship – Most valuable player

State awards

* 2024: Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta

Record

* 138 km/h serve speed

References

External links

*

Wilfredo León
at ''Volleybox.net''

Wilfredo León
at ''LegaVolley.it''
*
*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leon, Wilfredo
1993 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Santiago de Cuba
Cuban emigrants to Poland
Naturalized citizens of Poland
Cuban men's volleyball players
Polish men's volleyball players
Olympic volleyball players for Poland
Olympic silver medalists for Poland
Olympic medalists in volleyball
Volleyball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Volleyball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Youth Olympic gold medalists for Cuba
Volleyball players at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics
Pan American Games silver medalists in volleyball
Pan American Games silver medalists for Cuba
Volleyball players at the 2011 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
Expatriate volleyball players in Russia
Cuban expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Expatriate volleyball players in Qatar
Cuban expatriate sportspeople in Qatar
Cuban expatriate volleyball players in Italy
Polish expatriate volleyball players in Italy
VC Zenit Kazan players
LKPS Lublin players
Outside hitters
21st-century Polish sportsmen