Top 10 Olympic volleyball Players

Who are the top 10 volleyball players based on Olympic Games performances? Join us to find the answer.

One of the most popular sports in the world, with high-quality leagues in many countries, is volleyball. There are a set of great players around the world for both indoor and beach games. Since 1964, indoor volleyball has been an Olympic sport, and from the early days, Japan and the Soviet Union dominated the sport in Olympic Games. In 1996, beach volleyball was added, and it has become one of the most exciting events of the Games. These days beach volleyball was dominated by Brazil and the United States.

Since indoor volleyball introduction, the former Soviet Union, Brazil, and United States are the only teams to win multiple gold medals at the men's event. Japan, Poland, Netherlands, Russia, and defunct Yugoslavia won the remaining five editions of the Men's Olympic Volleyball Tournament. In women's events, gold medals are less evenly distributed than in men's. Brazil, Cuba, China, Japan, and the former Soviet Union are five countries that won the fourteen editions of the Women's Olympic Volleyball Tournament.

Over the years, the sport has had some great legendary figures. In the following article, we will review the top 10 Olympic volleyball players.

Best Ever Volleyball Players at the Olympic Games

Let's take a look at to the list of best volleyball players of all time.

Best men's indoor volleyball players at Olympics

In the first part of our article on the top 10 Olympic volleyball players, we will present a countdown to the Famous Volleyball Players in the men's competition.

Steve Timmons (USA)

Steve Dennis Timmons, a former American volleyball player, is a member of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. The American legend represented the United States at three consecutive Summer Olympics, winning two gold medals in 1984 and 1988 as well as a bronze in 1992. Born in 1958, Timmons played in the Italian league, leading II Messagero to a record of 24-0 during the 1990 season.

The American helped the team win the Club World Championship. The power of his spikes during his playing time made him one of the best ever volleyball players at the Olympic Games. One of the best volleyball players of all time, Steve, was part of the American generation that won two consecutive Gold medals. Steve Timmons, alongside Karch Kiraly, was the reason why America has a tradition in volleyball. Steve Timmons, known as a fierce and powerful spiker, was famous for having an unstoppable spike.

In addition to having three Olympic medals, he also helped the United States win the 1986 World Championship. His notable individual achievements are the MVP of the 1984 Olympics, FIVB's Best Blocker, America's best men's volleyball player by the USOC. Due to his achievements, the American legend stapled his name as one of the greatest volleyball players in the sport's history.

Giba (Brazil)

With the presence of Giba, Brazil's national side never finished a single competition without a medal. Throughout his 19-year-long national career, he became one of the most successful volleyball players ever. In 2004, he won the Olympic gold medal with his country and during that tournament was at his best, becoming the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

On 29 August 2004, in the final volleyball of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, the Brazilians overcame Italy in the gold medal match in front of 10,000 fans. He also won two silver medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho, widely known as Giba, won a total of 8 MVP awards in international tournaments, including 1993 FIVB U19 World Championship, 1995 FIVB U21 World Championship, 2004 Olympic Games, 2006 FIVB World League, 2006 FIVB World Championship, 2007 South American Championship, and 2007 FIVB World Cup.

One of the greatest volleyball players of all time, Giba, won every single major volleyball title a player can win. His leadership, intelligence, and energy made him into one of the best volleyball players in the history of the sport. Besides his three Olympic medals, Giba won the World Championship title three times (2002, 2006, and 2010).

Although he was not very tall for a volleyball player, Giba made up his limitation with his jumping abilities and unique physical skills. To understand why he is on the list of the top 10 Olympic volleyball players, you should know that he won 3 Olympic medals, 3 World Championship Gold medals, four World Cup medals, and 12 World League medals.

Karch Kiraly (USA)

Born in 1960, Karch Kiraly won two Olympic Gold medals in indoor volleyball, as well as one Olympic Gold medal in beach volleyball. The American legend started playing volleyball at age six with encouragement from Dr. Laszlo Kiraly, his father. During his college time, the volleyball player played for UCLA, leading them to the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship in his freshman season in 1979.

Undoubtedly, Kiraly is the most talented volleyball player because not only he was successful on the court, he was also successful in beach volleyball, naming as one of the best beach volleyball players ever.

During his volleyball career, the American volleyball player was successful at every point, from his teenage years playing high school volleyball to his coaching career. He was part of the team that won the Gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Four years later, in the 1988 Olympic Games, Kiraly helped the USA repeat the title, being named the tournament's best player by FIVB.

Sergey Tetyukhin (Russia)

Born in 1975, Sergey Tetyukhin, a former Russian volleyball player, participated in a total of six Olympic Games' editions, a volleyball record. The Russian legend is one of only three male volleyball players who won four Olympic medals, including one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals during his playing time. The Russian volleyball player helped his country to win the Olympic title in 2012.

Due to his notable achievements, he was selected as Russia's Flag-Bearer in the Olympic games in 2012, one of the big honors an athlete can get. At the club level, the legend won one of the best continental leagues in the world, the CEV champions league, four times. Also, Tetyukhin won a silver and two bronze medals. He is famous for his career at the Russian clubs. From 1992 to 2018, Sergey Tetyukhin won a total of 23 national titles.

Undoubtedly, a retired volleyball player with one of the successful careers in volleyball history is a sporting legend. In 1995, he was part of the Russian national side that won the U21 World Champion, and a year later, Tetyukhin joined the senior team. When he was 21-year-old, the legend took the biggest stage in sports, going to his first Olympic Games.

From 1996 to 2016, he played in every edition of the Olympic Games, winning four medals. But he did not achieve a Gold medal until the 2012 London Olympic Games. The legend won one FIVB World League and two FIVB World Cups, in addition to his four Olympic medals. He is the only volleyball player in the world that won all three types of Olympic medals.

Sergio Santos (Brazil)

One of the best ever volleyball players at the Olympic Games is the former Brazilian volleyball player, Sergio Santos. He played in four Olympic competitions and won two gold and two silver medals. Widely known as Serginho, the retired volleyball player is one of the best defensive players, winning 39 individual awards during his playing time, such as Olympics and World League MVP's. He also won the 2002 and 2006 World Championships with his country and Undoubtedly, he is the best ever volleyball player at the Olympic Games.

One of the best volleyball players of all time, Serginho won a total of 33 international medals, of which 24 are gold. Sergio Santos was part of an unbeatable squad during much of the 2000s, and he was the main piece of the defensive system of Brazil that won everything.

During his playing time, he won many notable individual achievements, including Best Digger (2003 FIVB World League and 2004 Olympic Games), Best Receiver (2003 FIVB World League and 2004 Olympic Games), Best Libero (2003 FIVB World Cup, and 2004 Olympic Games). The Brazilian legend played up to the age of 40 with his country, and at the club level, Santos played beyond his 40's, winning countless medals.

One of the most talented volleyball players, Serginho, is the only male player to play in four straight Olympic finals, getting medals on all of them. What made him a special player is his defensive talent and dynamism. In the last Olympics, he played in front of his country and became the most important Brazilian player, helping his country win the gold medal. When he was 40, Serginho was named the tournament's MVP and retired from the national team with his second Olympic gold.

Best women's indoor volleyball players at Olympics

In this part of article on the top 10 Olympic volleyball players, we will present a countdown to the best Famous Volleyball Players in the women's events.

Inna Ryskal (Soviet Union)

Inna Valerievna Ryskal was one of the greatest volleyball players of the 1960s and the early 1970s. The legend was training at VSS Neftchi in Baku. In 1961, when she was 16-year-old, Ryskal started her international career, and a year later, she was part of the USSR team, finishing second in the FIVB's World Championships. One of the fascinating facts about Inna Ryskal is that she won a total of four medals (two gold, two silver) in four participations and no women's volleyball player won an Olympic medal than her. She was known as Caspian Thunderstorm because of her powerful and brutal attack.

Inna Ryskal won her first Olympic medal, a silver one, after losing to the host, Japan. Four years later, USSR made up by defeating Japan in the final, winning the Gold medal. In the next two editions, she went on to repeat her results. Besides Inna's Olympic medals, the legend won three World Championship medals. Inna was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1972, due to her incredible history at sport.

Regla Torres (Cuba)

Regla Torres, a Cuban volleyball player, is one of the best ever volleyball players at the Olympic games. What made Regla Torres one of the best players in volleyball history was her talent and overall volleyball completeness. The Cuban legend was one of the pillars of the most dominant volleyball side to ever exists, so it is not surprising that her name is on the list of the top 10 Olympic volleyball players.

Due to her achievements in volleyball history, Torres was named as best female volleyball player of the 20th century. The legend won individual awards in many disciplines like receiving, blocking, spiking, serving. Throughout her career, Regla achieved 14 international medals, 11 of which were gold.

Marlenis Costa (Cuba)

Another legend of the Cuban golden team that achieved three consecutive Olympic gold medals is Marlenis Costa. Born in 1973, Costa helped his country win World Championships in 1994 and 1998. Like other her teammates, Marlenis Costa's name is on the list of Olympic medalists in volleyball.

Mireya Luis (Cuba)

Born in 1967, Mireya Luis, a retired Cuban volleyball player, is on the list of Olympic medalists in volleyball. She started her career at Cuba's national side when he was just 15. Cuba is one of the greatest teams in volleyball history, and Luis was one of the team's greatest players. Mireya Luis and her teammates are the only female volleyball players that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Besides her Olympic medals, Mireya Luis also led Cuba to two world championships in 1994 and 1998. It is worth mentioning that she won three gold medals at FIVB World Cup in 1989, 1991, and 1995 as well as a 1985 silver medal.

Although she was not very tall for a volleyball player (1.75 m), Luis made up her limitation with her strong attacking ability. Her notable individual achievements are the MVP award at 1989 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup and 1995 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup.

Ana Fernandez (Cuba)

When we look at the list of the top 10 Olympic volleyball players, one name stands out as the greatest of the great; that name is Ana Fernandez, a former Cuban volleyball player. Undoubtedly, she is one of the best ever volleyball player at the Olympic Games. Born in 1973, Fernandez won three consecutive Olympic Gold medals (1992, 1996, 2000) and one Olympic Bronze during her career.

Ana Fernandez was the best player of one of the best teams in the history of the sport, the Cuba national team. Besides her Olympic medals, the magician won two consecutive FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship. Her notable individual award is Best Spiker at the 1998 World Championship.

Best players from Beach Volleyball at the Olympic Games

We wrap up our article with two best players from beach volleyball at the Olympic Games.

Kerri Walsh

Born in 1978, Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings, an American professional beach volleyball player, is on the list of Olympic medalists in beach volleyball. She won three Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012. For most of her career, an American athlete played with partner Misty May-Treanor and formed the most successful beach due in AVP history.

They formed a partnership in 2001 and finished the season with the number five ranking in the world. Kerri and Misty won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Misty May-Treanor

Misty Elizabeth May-Treanor, who won three Olympic gold medals, played her first professional match on the AVP tour in 1999. May joined the United States women's national volleyball team after graduating from Long Beach State.

As we mentioned earlier, Treanor and Walsh made a beautiful partnership in beach volleyball and won three Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012. The due achieved the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships (2003, 2005, and 2007). The beach volleyball fans called them the greatest beach volleyball team of all time. Her notable individual achievements are Most Outstanding Player at the 2004/2008 Summer Olympics, 2004 Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame, 2016 International Volleyball Hall of Fame.

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