Regla Bell and Gilberto Herrera, two renowned Cuban sports figures, were nominated for the 2024 Class of the prestigious International Volleyball Hall of Fame, whose voting will be open to the public until April 14.
The institution, based in the American city Holyoke, Massachusetts,public this week the names of the23 candidates for this year's exaltation and which includes the two Cubans.
Bell Rule She is one of the legendary Morenas of the Caribbean, and has an impressive record, as a three-time Olympic champion (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000), two-time world champion (Brazil 1994 and Japan 1998) and was a four-time winner of the World Cup (1989 , 1991, 1995 and 1999).
Her experience in the professional leagues of several countries, including Italy, Spain, Brazil, Indonesia and the Philippines, established her as one of the best, being named Most Valuable Player of the Spanish Super League in the 2008-2009 season.
Bell competes in the "women's indoor volleyball" category against Kumi Nakada (Japan), Zhang Rongfang (China), Manuela Benelli (Italy) and Barbara Jelic-Ruzic (Croatia).
Gilberto Herrera, for his part, is a renowned coach with an outstanding career leading national teams from Cuba, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Venezuela.
He was chosen as the Best Coach in the World by the FIVB in 1977, and played a fundamental role in the Cuban men's team that won the bronze medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Also in the "Coaches" category are Jose “Ze Roberto” Guimares (Brazil), Kåre Mol (Norway) and Aleksander Skiba (Poland).
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 selection process includes public participation through Fan Vote presented by Mizuno, available on the hall of fame's website until April 14, 2024.
Voters can cast their votes daily for as many nominees as they wish, and the top six Fan Vote picks will receive an additional vote on the official ballot.
The announcement of the new inductees is scheduled for May 20, 2024, with an induction ceremony scheduled for Saturday, October 19 in Holyoke.
Cuba already has seven members in the International Volleyball Hall of Fame:Torres rule, Mireya Luis, Mirka Francia, Taimaris Agüero, Yumilka Ruiz and coach Eugenio George.
List of Nominees 2024
Indoor volleyball (women)
Bell Rule (Cuba)
Kumi Nakada (Japan)
Zhang Rongfang (China)
Manuela Benelli (Italy)
Barbara Jelic-Ruzic (Croatia)
Indoor volleyball (men's)
Dimitar KarovV (Bulgaria)
Ivan Milković (Serbia)
Raul Quiroga (Argentina)
Andrea Zorzi (Italy)
Philippe Blain (Francia)
Beach volleyball (women)
Ana Paula Henkel (Brazil)
Adriana Samuel (Brazil)
Elaine Youngs (United States)
Beach volleyball (men)
Julius Brink & Jonas Reckermann (Germany)
Tim Hovland (United States)
Coaches
Jose “Ze Roberto” Guimares (Brazil)
Kåre Mol (Norway)
Aleksander Skiba (Polonia)
Gilberto Herrera (Cuba)
Influential people
Barry Couzner (Australia)
Kainu Mikkola (Finland)
Giuseppe Panini (Italy)
Paravolleyball
Hadi Rezaei (Iran)
The Hall of Fame states that its role is to "honor the legends of the sport, recognize the greats, and preserve the rich history of volleyball for future generations."
In 2015, Bell published a plea for help after her career was about to end in a way that she, after an impeccable career, considered she did not deserve.
Last year, several Morenas del Caribe, the most emblematic team in Cuban volleyball, reported mistreatment and abandonment of them and the discipline by the Cuban authorities.
One of the voices that was raised was that ofTorres rule, who said she was "pissed off and embarrassed" by the treatment that the Cuban Volleyball Federation gives to former players.
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