Mireya becomes friends with Brazilian women and invites them to Cuba – 01/17/2024 – Sport

Having a shot of caipirinha before eating a feijoada to the sound of Cidade Negra is an almost irrefutable combination for former Cuban volleyball player Mireya Luis, 56.

She also appreciates and identifies with the Brazilian people. “We are all Latinos, with a very deep feeling for others, we are like that in Cuba too, we have that in common”, she tells Sheet.

His affection and respect for Brazil, however, awaken contradictory feelings here. “It’s almost a love-hate relationship”, jokes the former athlete.

At the height of her career, she was one of the biggest tormentors of the Brazilian women’s volleyball team despite being only 1.75 cm, a height considered low by the sport’s standards. A characteristic that she compensated for with the impulsion of her jump, with which she reached up to 3.36 m.

If it weren’t for the little flyer, the long-awaited Olympic gold could have come well before the Beijing Games in 2008. Probably from the hands of Ana Moser, Fernanda Venturini, Marcia Fu and Fofão, who were part of one of the most talented generations of Brazilian athletes in the sport.

The select group ended up prevented from reaching two Olympic finals, at the Games in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). In both, he ended up being eliminated by Cuba in the semifinals, in clashes that are still remembered today for Mireya’s memorable performances, in addition to the tension on the courts.

The most notable episode of the rivalry took place at the Olympics on North American soil, when the match ended with a general fight. The confusion began at the exit of the court, after a disagreement between the players, and continued at the entrance to the changing rooms.

The case was taken to the police, where the Brazilian women admitted that it was Marcia Fu who struck the first blow, but that soon afterwards there was a push and shove and a series of slaps and kicks from all sides, as reported by the Sheet in season.

Despite the conflict, Mireya guarantees that there was mutual respect between the teams. “On the court, the rivalry existed. But there was also a lot of respect. At the time, we were pretty naughty. If it weren’t for the ‘lions’ watching us all the time, we could have had a few beers somewhere.”

More than “damn”, the Cuban women were talented. So much so that his victories went beyond the world of sport and became a reference for success in Cuban society. Called the “Brunettes of the Caribbean”, Mireya and her teammates symbolized the strength of women in the country.

The image was built with three gold medals at the Olympics: Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). The achievements were also interspersed with world titles, won in 1994 and 1998.

The record could have been even more impressive if Cuba had not been left out of the Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988) Olympics for political reasons.

“I was very sorry I couldn’t go to the Olympic Games”, admits Mireya. “But perhaps my youth, my desire to play and my psychological strength gave me the strength to not fall apart.”

Today, looking back, she guarantees that she was not missed. “I won three golds, what more could I want?”

The tone of resignation is also a way of avoiding direct criticism of Fidel Castro, who orchestrated the boycotts of the Los Angeles and Seoul Games.

Mireya speaks with nostalgia when referring to the Cuban dictator. “I had an almost personal relationship with him. People distinguished me because of this relationship, because of this friendship we had. He really liked sports and valued our victories”, she remembers.

“Even when we lost a championship, he welcomed us to the palace with open arms and said he would always do this, win or lose”, he says. “This stimulated us so much because it was a commitment that was not political, but at the same time it was almost political.”

In fact, she says she doesn’t like politics to this day. Currently, she is part of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and works on the development of beach volleyball in Cuba.

Since the 6th, the Cuban woman has been in Brazil. Invited by Sesc to be part of the entity’s summer program, she has participated in volleyball clinics and chats with the public who attend the institution’s units.

The activities also feature the presence of former rivals, such as Ana Moser, Fofão, Karin Rodrigues and Virna Rodrigues (see schedule below).

“I feel immense satisfaction in coming here since Brazil is a very important country that loves volleyball very much”, says Mireya.

The Cuban only regrets the image that some Brazilians have of their country, mainly by people with a right-wing political orientation. She didn’t know it, but she found the expression “go to Cuba”, which has become common in political discussions here, strange, with a negative connotation.

Daughter of a Haitian immigrant and a Cuban woman, Mireya likes to express her patriotism despite Cuba living under a dictatorship in which freedom of expression is restricted, in addition to the consequences of the financial crisis that has ravaged the country since the rise of the Castro regime, in 1959.

She herself had to deal with this throughout her career when she received an invitation to play in Brazil, but was prevented from leaving her country.

“At the time, I don’t remember exactly the year, nor the club, but Cuba wasn’t open for players to go and play in other countries,” she says. “But my passion has always been to play for the Cuban national team, that is, nothing else,” she adds.

Furthermore, she also likes to quote an expression that, according to the former athlete, is quite common in her country: “get to know Cuba first, experience Cuba first, then foreigners.”

That’s why she invited Brazilians: “Come and get to know Cuba.”

Sesc volleyball circuit programming with Mireya Luis

• January 17th (Wednesday), from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm – Mireya and Virna – Sesc São Carlos

• January 18th (Thursday), from 7pm to 9pm – Mireya and Virna Rodrigues – Sesc Piracicaba

• January 20th (Saturday), from 4pm to 6:30pm – Mireya and Spence Lee – Sesc Taubaté

• January 21st (Sunday), from 3:30 pm to 6 pm – Mireya and Virna Rodrigues – Sesc São José dos Campos