The Brazil women’s volleyball team have paid tribute to the passing of Olympic champion 43-year-old Walewska Oliveira who died on Thursday night (21 September).
The highly respected player, also known as Wal, was part of the team that broke down barriers in Brazilian volleyball, winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold at Beijing 2008. The triumph followed a previous trip to the podium at Sydney 2000 where they took bronze.
Her national team career also included three Grand Prix titles (2004, 2006, 2008) and gold at the Pan American Games in 1999.
Walewska retired in 2022, ending her career at Brazilian Superleague side Praia Clube, where she helped them lift the title in 2018. The Uberlandia team retired the number one shirt in her honour.
In recognition of the late Olympic champion’s life, the Brazilian team, competing in one of the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments in Japan, held a moment of silence before their game against Türkiye on Friday (22 September). Players also wore armbands featuring the letter W, the number one and a heart.
Joining the chorus of voices acknowledging Walewska’s passing was the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation, who wrote in a statement on social media:
“With sadness and immense regret, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) received the news of the passing of Olympic champion Walewska this Thursday night.”
CBV president Radamés Lattari added: “Walewska was a special player, her career in the sport will forever be remembered and revered. At this difficult time, CBV sympathises with the family and friends of this great player.”
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