09-JULY-2013
U19 : LEARNING FROM A LEGEND

At the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships, athletes are dreaming with success in the sport they have chosen and where they’re giving the first steps.

Sometimes, on the route, these athletes come accompanied by some stars of the past, which followed a different path when the actual beach volleyball was taking the first steps, and shone with great intensity in international competitions ... in the background the dream of those who tomorrow will begin competing at the Transparent Building beach in Porto.

One of these stars is the Brazilian Jacqueline Louise Cruz Silva, better known as Jackie Silva.
Jackie Silva is one of the living legends of beach volleyball world, having competed from 1992 to 2004 with remarkable results.
From 1994 to 1997, forming team with Sandra Pires, she always rose to the podium in all events held under the aegis of FIVB in which she participated, having won, among many other titles, a gold medal (the first) at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA in 1996 and World Champion at Los Angeles, USA, in the following year.

And now?
"Now, I'm coaching in a beach volleyball school which I own in Rio de Janeiro and I'm training teams from Jamaica, under a a sports exchanges protocol that Brazil signed with the Caribbean country.
I started just a month ago and you can feel that it is different because the sport is not very widespread in Jamaica.
The girls are very young (14 years old) and inexperienced, but the boys (16 years) are talented and ambitious.
The goal is to participate in the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in preparation for the Youth Olympic Games.
I want these athletes to experience the competition, to observe, to dream to reach higher, participate and feel the competition, because this experience will be very important to their future.

And how does one of the beach volleyball pioneers sees the changes wrought over the years in the sport?
"Beach volleyball is better, with the emergence of some countries, especially Europeans, who had no great tradition in this sport. Brazil and the United States are no longer the only powerhouses in the sport.
In women, China, which had no tradition in the sport, is now very strong.
Since me and Sandra won the first Olympic tournament, at 96, the sport has evolved. Before we were players and agents at the same time, it does not happen now, but I confess that it was perhaps better because made most athletes responsible and other allowed creativity and spontaneity.
Apart from our (Jackie / Sandra) were other Brazilian women who marked beach volleyball in Brazil and the world, as Shelda / Adriana or, more recently, Larissa / Juliana.
At the moment there are several pairs with a value very similar. "

In Portugal, recalled mainly Espinho, where she competed for five occasions, with different team mates, having won in 1996.
"I knew the city of Espinho, where I disputed a World Tour stage, but this beach of Porto is more like those of Rio de Janeiro.
I love Portugal, here I have the opportunity to speak Portuguese with a great familiarity and I’m a passionate of Portuguese food, cod, sardines, accompanied by a good beer "... [View video ]

The FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships, starts tomorrow [See U19 WC]

In boys, Portugal will participate with José Tomás Silva / Maia and Diogo Bernardo Martins / Pombeiros Francisco, who will compete in the Main Draw, while Jorge Graça / Artur Resende and Bernardo Cabral and Silva / Dinis Lion will play in the Qualification Round.

In girls, Vanessa Paquete / Gabriela Ines Coelho and Pereira / Maria Tinoco (Main Draw); Maria Leonor Lopes / Silvia Barny and Ana Afonso Martins / Daniela Silva (Qualification) are the Portuguese teams that will fight for decent results.
The coaching staff of the Portuguese teams is formed by Francisco Fidalgo, Joao Pedro Vieira and Ricardo Rocha. [View video ]

More info: www.fivb.org / www.facebook.com/fpvoleibol / www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/U19/2013