Yumilka Ruiz

Yumilka Daysi Ruíz Luaces (born 8 May 1978, in Camagüey), more commonly known as Yumilka Ruíz, is a retired volleyball player from Cuba who represented her native country in four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996.[1] She won Olympic gold medals with the national team in 1996[2] and 2000.[3] She also claimed the bronze at the 2004 Olympics.[4] As an outside hitter, she was integral to the dominance of the Cuban team in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[5]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ruiz and the second or maternal family name is Luaces.
Yumilka Ruíz
Personal information
Full nameYumilka Ruíz Luaces
NationalityCuban
Born (1978-05-08) 8 May 1978
Camagüey, Cuba
HometownCamagüey, Cuba
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb)
Spike329 cm (130 in)
Block315 cm (124 in)
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Number1
National team
1996–2008 Cuba
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Cuba
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Team
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1998 Japan Team
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1999 Japan Team
World Grand Champions Cup
Silver medal – second place 1997 Japan Team
World Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 2000 Manila Team
Silver medal – second place 1997 Kobe Team
Silver medal – second place 2008 Yokohama Team
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Hong Kong Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
Silver medal – second place 2003 Santo Domingo Team
NORCECA Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 Winnipeg Team
Pan-American Cup
Gold medal – first place 2007 Colima Team
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 1993 Ponce Team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Cartagena Team

In 2023, Ruíz was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[1][5]

Club volleyball

Ruíz played the 2004-05 season with the Russian club Uralochka-NTMK, where she set the record of scoring 53 points in a single match and led her team to the championship title.[6][1]

Ruíz retired in 2008 at age 30.[7] At 1.79m (5'10"), she had a jump reach of 3.29m (10'10") at the peak of her career.[8]

After three years of inactivity, Ruíz made a comeback in 2012 to play in Russian League for Uralochka-NTMK Ekaterinburg, and participated in the European Champions League.[9] She retired in 2014.[5]

International Olympic Committee

In August 2008, Ruíz was elected to an eight-year term to the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee by athletes that cast votes.[10]

Clubs
  • Italy Medinex Reggio Calabria (1996–2000)
  • Cuba Ciudad Habana (2000–2006)
  • Russia Uralochka-NTMK (2004–2005)
  • Cuba Camagüey (2006–2008)
  • Russia Uralochka-NTMK (2012–2014)

Awards

Individuals

Clubs
  • 1998 CEV Cup – Runner-up, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 1999 Italian Cup – Runner-up, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 1998-99 Italian Championship – Runner-up, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 1999-00 Italian Championship – Runner-up, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 2000 Italian Cup – Champion, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 2000 Italian Super Cup – Champion, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 2000 CEV Cup – Champion, with Medinex Reggio Calabria
  • 2004-05 Russian Super League – Champion, with Uralochka-NTMK

References
  1. Coll Untoria, Jorge Luis (16 June 2023). "Yumilka Ruiz, up to the sky in a kite". Oncubanews.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. Wilson, Bernie (3 August 1996). "Cuba Wins Volleyball Gold". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  3. "Cuba women win third consecutive Olympic title". CNN/SI. 12 October 2000. Archived from the original on 16 April 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  4. "Cuba wins women's volleyball bronze by beating Brazil". USA Today. Associated Press. 29 August 2004. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  5. Feuer, Tom (22 May 2023). "2023 Volleyball Hall class includes Phil Dalhausser, Larissa, Katsutoshi Nekoda, Yumilka Ruiz". Volleyballmag.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. "КУБИНСКИЙ КАРНАВАЛ В ПОДМОСКОВНОЙ ЛОБНЕ" [Cuban Carnival in the Moscow region]. Sport Express (in Russian). 19 February 2005. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  7. "Yumilka Ruiz ratifica su retiro del deporte activo" [Yumilka Ruiz confirms her retirement from active sports]. Granma (in Spanish). 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  8. "Highest Spike Touches". Volleywood.net. 3 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  9. "1 Yumilka RUIZ LUACES". European Volleyball Confederation. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  10. Qintu, Si (21 August 2008). "Four athletes elected to IOC Athletes' Commission, Chinese hurdler Liu fail to prevail". CCTV. Xinhua. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
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