Alejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández (born 25 August 1967) is a

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

n former

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

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. She was the captain of the Cuban team from the late 1980s until her retirement. In 2004, Mireya was inducted into the

International Volleyball Hall of Fame The International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) was founded to honor extraordinary players, coaches, officials, and leaders who have made significant contributions to the game of volleyball. The Hall of Fame is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts ...

Career

Pan American Games

At the age of 10, Mireya started playing volleyball. At 16, Mireya joined the Cuban national team for the

1983 Pan American Games The 1983 Pan American Games, officially known as the IX Pan American Games () and commonly known as Caracas 1983, were held in Caracas, Venezuela from August 14 to August 29, 1983. The games were the first major international competition to inclu ...

, winning a gold medal. She competed at the

1987 Pan American Games The 1987 Pan American Games, officially known as the X Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event held in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, on August 7–23, 1987. Over 4,300 athletes from 38 countries in the Americas ...

, again helping Cuba win the tournament. She won additional gold medals at the Pan American Games in

1991 It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...

and

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

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 "Jenny" Lang Ping (; born 10 December 1960) is a Chinese former volleyball player and coach. She is the former head coach of the Chinese women's national volleyball team and U.S. women's national volleyball team. As a player, Lang won the mos ...

won the gold. In that tournament, Mireya was named the "best attacker". In 1989, she won her first FIVB World Cup gold medal with Cuba, and was awarded as the "best spiker" and "most valuable player". She won additional gold medals at the

and 1995 FIVB World Cup, being selected as the "best attacker" in both tournaments and the "most valuable player" in 1995. Mireya led Cuba to the silver medal at the 1986 FIVB World Championship, and subsequently led Cuba to gold medals at the

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

and 1998 FIVB World Championship.

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. Mireya won her first Olympic gold medal in

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

. She would win her second Olympic gold medal in

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. Although she contemplated retiring after winning her second Olympic gold medal, she continued playing for the national team. Mireya achieved her third Olympic gold medal in

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, and soon after retired in 2001.

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.

FIVB

In 2018, Mireya was unanimously elected to the position of executive vice president of the

International Volleyball Federation International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(FIVB).

Personal life

Mireya has a daughter, Idanaisi, and a grandson, Darío.

Individual awards

* ''

1985 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup The 1985 FIVB Women's World Cup was held from 10 to 20 November 1985 in four cities in Japan such as Sapporo, Iwamizawa, Fukuoka, and Tokyo. Qualification Results Location: Sapporo Location: Iwamizawa Location: Sapporo ...

"Best Attacker"'' * ''

1989 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup The 1989 FIVB Women's World Cup was held from 7 to 14 November 1989 in Japan. Teams Results Final standing Awards * Most valuable player *: Mireya Luis * Best spiker *: Mireya Luis * Best blocker * ...

"Most Valuable Player"'' * ''

"Best Spiker"'' * ''

1991 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup The 1991 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, FIVB Women's World Cup was held from 8 to 17 November 1991 in 3 cities in Japan: Tokyo, Sendai, and Osaka. Twelve national teams played for the right to a fast lane ticket into the Volleyball at the 1992 ...

"Best Attacker"'' * ''

"Spirit of Fight"'' * ''

1994 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship The 1994 FIVB Women's World Championship was the twelfth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 17 to 30 October 1994 in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Teams ;Group A * * * * ...

"Best Spiker"'' * ''

1993 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix The 1993 FIVB World Grand Prix was the first edition of the women's volleyball tournament, annually arranged by FIVB. It was played by eight countries from 28 May to 30 June 1993. The final round was staged in Hong Kong. Preliminary round Ranki ...

"Most Valuable Player"'' * ''

1995 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup The 1995 FIVB Women's World Cup was a volleyball tournament held from 3 to 17 November 1995 in Japan. Twelve national teams played in cities all over Japan for the right to a fast lane ticket into the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, US. Teams ...

"Most Valuable Player"'' * ''

"Best Spiker"''

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mireya Luis 1967 births Living people Cuban women's volleyball players Volleyball players at the 1992 Summer Olympics Volleyball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics Volleyball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics Olympic volleyball players for Cuba Olympic gold medalists for Cuba Sportspeople from Camagüey Olympic medalists in volleyball Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics Wing spikers Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in volleyball Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Cuba Competitors at the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games Pan American Games gold medalists in volleyball Pan American Games silver medalists in volleyball Pan American Games gold medalists for Cuba Pan American Games silver medalists for Cuba Medalists at the 1983 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees 20th-century Cuban sportswomen