Lausanne, Switzerland, Jan 6, 2013: Brazil’s Talita Antunes capped a brilliant 2013 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Beach Volleyball season by winning four gongs in the end of season awards.
Talita was in spectacular form in 2013 and along with new partner Taiana Lima won the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball Season Rankings title having won five gold medals in FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Grand Slams.
“For me this year was very special because I have always worked hard and had teammates who worked hard, but this year it showed much more in the results,” Talita said. “Taiana and I blended very well on the court and we really were able to anticipate each other’s moves, work together and create some very positive results internationally as well as domestically in Brazil.
“With the beginning of the new Olympic cycle, my goal is to represent my country right here at home in Rio (de Janeiro) in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. I am grateful that others in our sport noticed what we did this year and I am honoured and humbled to receive these awards that so many of the sport’s greatest players have received in other years.”
The awards are chosen by players, coaches, referees and officials that participate on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.
Talita was selected as the Best Offensive Player, Best Blocker and Best Hitter and together with teammate Lima was honoured as the FIVB Beach Volleyball women’s Team of the Year, while Lima was voted the 2013 Sportsperson of the year.
USA’s three-time Olympic gold medallist Kerri Walsh was voted as the Most Outstanding Player for the third time and second consecutive year despite only playing in three Grand Slams.
Laura Ludwig was voted as the Most Inspirational Player and the Best Defensive Player while her new teammate Kira Walkenhorst received recognition as the Rookie of the Year and the Most Improved Player of the Year. Their fellow German Ilka Semmler meanwhile won the FIVB Best Setter award.
2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour/FIVB Open Award Winners
Most Outstanding
Kerri Walsh, United States
Best Blocker
Talita Antunes, Brazil
Best Defensive Player
Laura Ludwig, Germany
Best Hitter
Talita Antunes, Brazil
Best Offensive Player
Talita Antunes, Brazil
Best Setter
Ilka Semmler, Germany
Most Improved Player
Kira Walkenhorst, Germany
Most Inspirational
Laura Ludwig, Germany
Sportsperson
Taiana Lima, Brazil
Top Rookie
Kira Walkenhorst, Germany
Team of the Year
Talita Antunes & Taiana Lima, Brazil. —- FIVB
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.