Magaly Carvajal

Magalys Carvajal Rivera (born 18 December 1968), more commonly known as Magaly Carvajal, is a retired Cuban volleyball player and two-time Olympian. As a middle blocker, she led Cuba to gold medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.^[1][2][3]

Magaly Carvajal
Personal information
Full name	Magalys Esther Carvajal Rivera
Nationality	Cuban/Spanish/American
Born	(1968-12-18) 18 December 1968 (age 56) Havana, Cuba
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Middle blocker
Number	15 (Cuban national team)
National team
1985–1996  Cuba 2001–2002  Spain
Honours Women's volleyball Representing  Cuba Olympic Games 1992 Barcelona Team 1996 Atlanta Team World Championship 1994 Brazil Team 1986 Czechoslovakia Team FIVB World Cup 1989 Japan 1991 Japan 1995 Japan Team FIVB World Grand Prix 1993 Hong Kong 1994 Shanghai 1996 Shanghai 1995 Shanghai World Grand Champions Cup 1993 Japan Pan American Games 1987 Indianapolis Team 1991 Havana Team 1995 Mar del Plata Team

Carvajal also helped Cuba win the silver medal in the 1986 FIVB World Championship in Czechoslovakia and the gold medal in the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil.^[2] Additionally, she won gold medals in the 1989, 1991, and 1995 FIVB World Cups in Japan.^[2][4]

Carvajal was a starter at just 17 years of age with the Cuban team in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis,^[5] where she won a gold medal.^[6] She also participated in the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana and the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, winning a gold medal in each event.^[6] After winning her second Olympic gold medal in 1996, Carvajal announced her retirement from the Cuban team.^[7]

Carvajal is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle blockers of all time, standing at 1.90 meters (6'3") tall.^[2] She was known for shutting down the greatest hitters in the world.^[8] Her vertical jump reach of 3.35 meters (11') was rivaled only by teammate Mireya Luis.^[2] Her stare was known to intimidate players at the net, and has been called by many of her peers "the look of death".^[2] Carvajal was also an effective hitter.^[2][9]

In 2011, Carvajal was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.^[2][10]

Spanish national team

Carvajal became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 1998, and played on the Spanish women's national volleyball team from 2001 to 2002.^[10]

Club volleyball

Carvajal had a successful transition to the Spanish volleyball league, becoming a dominant player. In 2003–04, she led Spar Tenerife Marichal to the European Champions League title.^[10]

Personal life

In June 2020, Carvajal announced on Facebook that she became a United States citizen.^[11]