Yumilka Ruíz | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Yumilka Ruíz Luaces | ||
Nationality | Cuban | ||
Born | Camagüey, Cuba | 8 May 1978||
Hometown | Camagüey, Cuba | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Weight | 62 kg (137 lb) | ||
Spike | 3.29 m (130 in) | ||
Block | 3.15 m (124 in) | ||
Volleyball information | |||
Position | Outside hitter | ||
Number | 1 | ||
National team | |||
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Honours |
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 2023, Ruíz was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. [1] [5]
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 1.79 m (5'10"), she had a jump reach of 3.29 m (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]
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]