Walewska, Olympic volleyball champion, dies at age 43 – 09/22/2023 – Sport

Former volleyball player Walewska Moreira de Oliveira died this Thursday (21), aged 43, in São Paulo. The cause of death was not reported. Retired since 2022, the Olympic champion was in the capital of São Paulo to promote her book, “Outras Redes”.

The death was confirmed by Dentil/Praia Clube, from Uberlândia (MG), the player’s last team.

“Leader on and off the court, the Olympic champion changed the level of the Dentil/Praia Clube team and together we walked the path to glory”, says a statement released by the team. “Brazilian volleyball and the sporting community have lost a true legend, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

The former center was Olympic champion at the Beijing Games in 2008, when the Brazilian team won the first gold for women’s volleyball. She also won the bronze medal in Sydney 2000.

The CBV (Brazilian Volleyball Confederation) mourned her death and remembered the former player’s achievements: in addition to being Olympic champion, Walewska won three Grand Prix titles, the 1999 Pan-American Games and the 2013 Champions Cup.

“Walewska was a special player, her trajectory in the sport will forever be remembered and revered. At this difficult time, CBV sympathizes with the family and friends of this great player”, said president Radamés Lattari.

She played for several clubs, such as Minas, Osasco and Praia Clube. In the latter, she was Superliga champion in 2017/2018, South American champion in 2021 and ended her sporting career in the 2021/2022 season.

Dentil/Praia Clube immortalized Wal’s number 1 shirt, as the athlete was called. After her retirement, no one uses the number anymore.

In the biography “Outras Redes”, the former player said that she traveled the world and faced barriers as a volleyball player. “I changed my family’s life and planted the seed of confidence in hard work within the heart of my country,” she wrote.

After leaving volleyball, Walewska was a consultant on leadership and high performance.

“You know that person who you like more every time you meet? That was Wal. Committed, vibrant, extremely correct and full of future plans”, describes therapist Margareth Signorelli, with whom the former player presented the Olympic Mind podcast.

In her last interview, on the podcast “Ataque Defesa”, by journalist Alê Oliveira, the former player spoke about her future away from the court and the importance of planning and learning other things.

“I have at least 40 more years of productive life. It’s a whole world you have to think about when you’re on the court,” he said.