1- Our congratulations for having managed to become a triple Paralympic champion with this latest victory at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.
– Thank you very much. Our ladies played very well to win the third Gold!

2- After this gold medal, how do you feel?
– We had significant challenges during the Games so I was very pleased to see how the team came together to overcome the challenges. Winning three Gold medals in a row wasn’t a goal (we had a goal to medal) so it was fantastic to win 3 in a row. Some of our players are getting older so I had to make some adjustments to their training and recovery. Those changes seem to pay off so I was glad to see that.

3- What was your impression of these Paralympic Games in Paris 2024?
– Paris is an iconic city with many historical sites. It was great to see how they incorporated those sites into the Games. The Games seemed to be organized pretty well but there were many behind-the-scenes difficulties. The village was nice, but the food wasn’t so good and we had to get extra mattresses and air-conditioners so the athletes could receive the proper rest they needed. Some athletes loved the bread and muffins, but I was more concerned about there not being enough lean protein for the athletes to eat. The Parisians were very friendly and willing to help. Overall, it was a good Games.

4- Do you think there have been differences regarding the technical-tactical level between these past games and those held in Tokyo 2020?– Each team had their own unique tactical changes (like Brazil using a different blocking system on us than they did with the rest of the teams), but I don’t think there were any significant technical/tactical changes from Tokyo. Some of that may have been due to the shorter time between the Games (3 years instead of the normal 4 – not as much time to make changes). Our performance analyst is the best in the game. The information we gain from him definitely benefits us in our preparation for matches.

5- Which of the current rules, both Classification and Refereeing, influenced in such a way that the teams had to adjust or change in their preparation and in the matches. And which one specifically influenced your team the most?
– The “slight” lifting off the floor while playing a ball under the height of the net helped extend rallies. Sometimes lifts happened while players played a ball above the height of the net, and it wasn’t called but overall, it was called okay. We study referees so we know how they will call butt lifts and other calls. So, we were prepared for how matches would be officiated by the refs that called our matches. I believe all matches were officiated pretty well. Not having the technical timeouts influenced how we had to manage matches and how we managed time outs. Only having 30 seconds is not enough time since it takes the Paralympic players longer to get off the court and then to get water and try and have the coach give technical & tactical information. I believe that timeouts need to be 1 minute.

6- Do you think the new regulations have influenced the dynamism of the matches?
– Some of the new rules have extended rallies and allowed players to show their athleticism.

7- How was the performance of the referee group during these games in your opinion?
– As I mentioned above, I thought the matches were officiated well.

8- Was the knowledge of the new regulations and the experience of the referees at a level that allowed dynamism during the matches?
– I think so.

9- Of the technical elements of volleyball, which was, from your point of view and based on your experience, the one that had the most influence on the victories achieved by your team in these Paris 2024 games.
– We have a very good offense, and our players really attacked well in the Gold medal match. I mention this because you have to score points to win! We also have one of the best players in the world that can consistently put up hittable balls. Our defense and block touches helped us not allow other teams to score as much and we scored on blocking a significant number of balls. We are a good serving team and pass pretty well. Volleyball in all of its disciplines are still a serve and pass game.

10- Many of the current coaches have been focusing more on tactical preparation with players with little experience in this sporting discipline, based solely on the knowledge that these players have had in other sports. Do you think this would be a good initiation method for these players?
– The more experience a player has in playing volleyball the better player they will be. That is the case of standing players playing sitting or sitting players playing standing (if possible). Research on cross training has shown that it is effective for players especially during down time or time between seasons. I have observed that players in throwing sports, like baseball/softball, do well in transitioning to volleyball.

11- What would be the most important aspects to consider when forming a team?
– This is a big question. Find the best athletes you can. Have a good training plan that covers movement on the court. Consistent training over the course of a year is better than blocks of training a few times a year. Make sure that players care about the Team and not just their performance. Teach players so they see, think, know, read, and make decisions in the game.

12- What advice would you give us that could help us be better coaches in the future?
– Have a coaching philosophy and review it periodically. Make changes and update it when needed. Know why you do what you do and have good reasons for doing it. Develop & teach players holistically to reach their optimal performance levels, grow through a positive culture, and use scientifically based information. Strive to leave a legacy.

13- Finally, thank you once again for accepting this interview and for your wise words, I believe that together we can strengthen Sitting Volleyball on our Continent.
– It was a pleasure!