Taismary Agüero
Encyclopedia
Taismary Agüero Leiva Botteghi (born March 5, 1977) is a Cuba
n-born Italian
volleyball
player.
in the province of Sancti Spiritus
, when 8 year old she began to play volleyball
; two years later she entered in the Cerro Pelado Training Center in Havana
. In 1993 she won the junior women's volleyball world championship then she joined the senior national team. She did not participate in the 1994 FIVB Women's World Championship
but she won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta two years later. In 1998 together with Mireya Luis
, Regla Bell
, Ana Ibis Fernandez, and Mirka Francia
she won the 1998 FIVB Women's World Championship
in Japan
. In 2000 she was a member of the Cuban Woman volleyball national team that won the gold medal at the Sydney
. In the summer 2001 she left the Cuban National Team during a tournament in Switzerland
and applied for political asylum in Italy
. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
allowed her to play in Italy despite the opposition of Cuban volley federation and so she joined Pallavolo Sirio Perugia, an Italian volleyball club, where she had just played before during the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 seasons. At the end of 2006 she became an Italian citizen after marrying Alessio Botteghi an Italian physiotherapist who, as of 2008, works for the Turkish National Women Volleyball team. In the summer of 2007 she joined the Italian national team.
. In season 2007/2008 she played for Türk Telekom
club in Ankara
, in season 2009/2010 she will play for Carnaghi Villa Cortese team in the Italian League. Now Agüero both in club and in national team played as right hitters, while with the Cuban national teams she was setter/hitter.
, and, in 1996 and 2000, the Summer Olympics games. She was Italian national champion in 2002/2003 and 2004/2005.
Playing for Italy, she won the 2007 European Championship, where she was also declared Most Valuable Player, sha has also won the gold medal at 2009 European volleyball Championship
(1998–2005) Asystel Novara
(2005–2007) Türk Telekom Ankara
(2007–2009) Carnaghi Villa Cortese (2009–2010)
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-born Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player.
Life
Born in YaguajayYaguajay, Cuba
Yaguajay is a municipality and city in the Sancti Spíritus Province of Cuba. It is located in the northern part of the province, and borders the Bay of Buena Vista to the north....
in the province of Sancti Spiritus
Sancti Spíritus
Sancti Spíritus is a municipality and capital city of the province of Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba. Sancti Spíritus, Latin for "Holy Spirit," is one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time of the sugar trade.-History:...
, when 8 year old she began to play volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
; two years later she entered in the Cerro Pelado Training Center in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. In 1993 she won the junior women's volleyball world championship then she joined the senior national team. She did not participate in the 1994 FIVB Women's World Championship
1994 FIVB Women's World Championship
The 1994 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship was the twelfth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB...
but she won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta two years later. In 1998 together with Mireya Luis
Mireya Luis
Alejandrina Mireya Luis Hernández, often referred to as Mireya is a retired Cuban volleyball player....
, Regla Bell
Regla Bell
Regla Maritza Bell MacKenzie is female volleyball player from Cuba who won three times the gold medal at the Olympic Games from 1992–2000, and the World Championship in 1998 with the Cuban national team....
, Ana Ibis Fernandez, and Mirka Francia
Mirka Francia
Mirka Francia Vasconcelos is a Cuban-Italian volleyball player who has won two Olympic gold medals with the Cuba women's national volleyball team...
she won the 1998 FIVB Women's World Championship
1998 FIVB Women's World Championship
The 1998 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship was the thirteenth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In 2000 she was a member of the Cuban Woman volleyball national team that won the gold medal at the Sydney
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. In the summer 2001 she left the Cuban National Team during a tournament in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and applied for political asylum in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball , commonly known by the acronym FIVB, is the international governing body for the sport of indoor, beach and grass volleyball.. Its headquarters are located in Lausanne, Switzerland and its current president is Wei Jizhong .- History :The FIVB was founded...
allowed her to play in Italy despite the opposition of Cuban volley federation and so she joined Pallavolo Sirio Perugia, an Italian volleyball club, where she had just played before during the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 seasons. At the end of 2006 she became an Italian citizen after marrying Alessio Botteghi an Italian physiotherapist who, as of 2008, works for the Turkish National Women Volleyball team. In the summer of 2007 she joined the Italian national team.
Career
Agüero had played for two season for Sirio Perugia from 1998 to 2000 then she played again for Sirio from 2001 to 2005. From 2005 to 2007 she has played for Asystel NovaraAsystel Novara
Asystel Novara is an Italian volleyball club.The team participated in the Women's CEV Champions League 2007-08, finishing with the bronze medal. 8 of the 16 players in the 2007-2008 squad have represented various nations in the Olympic Games.-2010-11 squad:As of June 2010...
. In season 2007/2008 she played for Türk Telekom
Türk Telekom Ankara
Türk Telekom Ankara is a professional volleyball team based in Ankara, Turkey. It plays in the Turkish volleyball league and in the Women's CEV Cup. Türk Telekom multisports is created in 1954...
club in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, in season 2009/2010 she will play for Carnaghi Villa Cortese team in the Italian League. Now Agüero both in club and in national team played as right hitters, while with the Cuban national teams she was setter/hitter.
Titles
In the 1993 junior championship she was named MVP, Best Setter and best server. In 1995 and 1997 she won the Panamerican games with CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and, in 1996 and 2000, the Summer Olympics games. She was Italian national champion in 2002/2003 and 2004/2005.
Playing for Italy, she won the 2007 European Championship, where she was also declared Most Valuable Player, sha has also won the gold medal at 2009 European volleyball Championship
2009 Women's European Volleyball Championship
The 2009 Women's European Volleyball Championship was the 26th edition of the European Volleyball Championship, organised by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball...
Clubs
Sirio PerugiaPallavolo Sirio Perugia
Pallavolo Sirio Perugia is an Italian volleyball club based in Perugia.-History:The team was created in 1970 in Perugia. It won five times the Italian National League, three the Italy's Cup, twice the European Champions League and one the Italy's Supercup....
(1998–2005) Asystel Novara
Asystel Novara
Asystel Novara is an Italian volleyball club.The team participated in the Women's CEV Champions League 2007-08, finishing with the bronze medal. 8 of the 16 players in the 2007-2008 squad have represented various nations in the Olympic Games.-2010-11 squad:As of June 2010...
(2005–2007) Türk Telekom Ankara
Türk Telekom Ankara
Türk Telekom Ankara is a professional volleyball team based in Ankara, Turkey. It plays in the Turkish volleyball league and in the Women's CEV Cup. Türk Telekom multisports is created in 1954...
(2007–2009) Carnaghi Villa Cortese (2009–2010)
Individual awards
- 1999 FIVB World Cup "Most Valuable Player"
- 1999 FIVB World Cup "Best Server"
- 2007 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Spiker"
- 2007 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Scorer"
- 2007 European Championship "Most Valuable Player"