Volleyball superstar Francesca Piccinini is still going strong at age 42.
Back in 1995, Piccinini was still a young 16-year-old women’s national team rookie, who was hoping to bring new life and glory to the team.
It was a long and arduous journey for Piccinini and her teammates to reach the top, but as the new millennium struck, all their hard work paid off beginning with a European Championship silver in 2001 and an FIVB Volleyball World Championship title in 2002.
A dominant player in her early years, Piccinini held that stature for most of her career.
And she certainly helped fill the Italian women's trophy case. She led Italy to win gold medals at the 2007 FIVB Volleyball World Cup and at the 2009 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup, along with two silver medals and three bronze medals at the FIVB World Grand Prix, added to another silver and two gold medals at the European Championship.
She also participated in four Olympic Games (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012).
After playing 503 matches with Italy and after winning a sixth Champions League for Igor Gorgonzola Novara, she announced her retirement in 2019. But she was soon back.
“I still have the same love and passion for volleyball that I had when I took to the court for the first time,” Piccinini said in an interview with European Confederation (CEV) upon her return.
It is her love of volleyball that has brought her this far and means she is still playing for Unet e-work Busto Arsizio.
Her career as a professional has surpassed the 25-year mark, and she has been one of the most celebrated European volleyball athletes ever. She has played all her life in Italy, except when she played for the Bernardo Rezende-mentored Brazilian club Rexona Curitiba at age 19.
She still has that fire in her to win more medals, but she has also opened a window of opportunities for the Italian youngsters to shine.
“The only medal I do not have in my collection is an Olympic medal. I very much wish that our current national team will make this happen at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“The team is still so young and already so talented. I am confident that Davide Mazzanti can prepare the girls in the best possible way for what lies ahead and for sure I will be supporting them.”
Piccinini's legacy in Italian volleyball is a big one. She has embodied the words talent, intelligence, grace and hard work in her career and the new generation of Italian players have much to admire.
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Source : volleyball.world
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