KOTNIK HREN Saša (SLO) – PVE – International Player 1999-2017; World and Zonal medallist; Role model and inspiration to others; work in the fields of event management and promotion

KOTNIK HREN Saša (SLO) Saša was a volleyball player who, after an accident in which she lost her leg, continued playing, first in the sitting volleyball club team ISD Samorastnik Ravne and then in the Slovenian national team. Her only wish after the amputation had been to continue playing volleyball....

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RASMUSSEN Brent (USA) – PVPA – International Player and Captain (2003-2011); USA Hall of Fame; USA Volleyball Board of Director Sitting Athlete 2015-2022: Coach (2008-2017) and work in the fields of development, event organisation, administration and governance.

RASMUSSEN Brent (USA) Brent started playing sitting volleyball in August of 2003 after becoming disabled in Feb 2002, after a bad car accident. He was introduced through Wheelchair Softball and after the first camp made the US sitting team and trained and played on the US team through 2011 “I...

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SALEHIHAJIKOLAEI Ramezan (IRI) – PVAO – Multi-medal winning International Player (2002-2022); Best Libero at four Paralympics.

SALEHIHAJIKOLAEI Ramezan (IRI) Ramezan started sitting volleyball in 2002 at a tournament in Germany. His father has been the person who has had the greatest influence on him and has supported him throughout his career. Event involvement: Paralympic Games 2004 – Athens Games – Silver Medal – Best Libero 2008...

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OSBORNE Richard (GBR) – PVE – Coach 2010-2022. Responsible for the development of Georgia International and Invictus Games Teams; Coach for GBR Armed Forces Invictus Team; GBR Development Coach; Sitting Volleyball Lead for Volleyball England (2020-present)

OSBORNE Richard (GBR) Richard started playing SV in 2010 and began coaching in 2011 and have continued since. He started as a player because a family friend who had lost both her legs introduced him to the sport. He instantly fell in love with it. Three months after starting, his...

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MEHRZADSELAKJANI Morteza (IRI) – PVAO – International Player and multi-gold medallist: An inspiration to others by overcoming his personal challenges. Achieved world renown and major publicity for sitting volleyball.

MEHRZADSELAKJANI Morteza (IRI) Morteza started his spectacular international sitting volleyball career at the 2016 Intercontinental in Anji, China. He credits his friend Mr Golchin for facilitating his introduction to the sport. Event involvement: Paralympic Games 2016 – Rio Paralympic Games – Gold Medal 2020 – Tokyo Paralympic Games – Gold...

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MATTHEWS Monique (USA) – PVPA – International Athlete (2010-2022). Multi-winner of USA and event awards: a Leader and role model.

MATTHEWS Monique (USA) Monique started with WOVD/WPV in 2010 at the World Championships in Edmond, Oklahoma. She states: “Bill Hamiter has been the greatest influence on me and my development because he is literally the person who taught me how to play not only sitting volleyball, but any volleyball. I...

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MATEUOV Yernar (KAZ) – PVAO – International Player (2002-2014; International Coach (2010-2022); Developed a positive image for KAZ International Team.

MATEUOV Yernar (KAZ) Yernar Mateuov started playing sitting volleyball nationally in 2002 and internationally in 2008 at the Intercontinental Cup in Egypt. He credits Takhauov Bayrzhan as having the greatest influence on his development. Event involvement: 2008 Ismailia, Egypt – Intercontinental Cup – Player 2009 Iran – Junior World Championships...

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MARSZALEK Jolanta (POL) – PVE – International Classifier; Classification Researcher and author contributing to the planning of a research-informed classification system; Chair of the Scientific Research Commission; Developed the WPV Injury Illness and Injury Survey Project:

MARSZALEK Jolanta (POL) Masters and PhD in the research areas of physical fitness, performance, and classification systems for Paralympic Sport. PhD thesis on Evaluation of classification system in sitting volleyball (in Polish). Published several papers on topics relating to sitting volleyball. Contributed to the development of a Research Scoping &...

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KASKABAYEV Erik (KAZ) – PVAO – International Player for twenty years, Coach since 2010 and a national referee. Role model in KAZ.

KASKABAYEV Erik (KAZ) Erik started playing sitting volleyball in 2002 and then internationally in 2006 at the Asian Para Games in Malaysia. Kulushov Nuraly has been the person he has credited as having the greatest influence on his development in the sport. Event involvement: 2006 Malaysia – Asian Para Games...

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KASAP Damir (CRO) – PVE – International Player 1996-present and in the fields of national team, club and player development, administration and governance

KASAP Damir (CRO) Damir started playing sitting volleyball on the national and international level in 1996 in Croatia and still is a member of the national team. The sport was ideal for social rehabilitation of war veterans and their inclusion back to society. Later on, with new generations it quickly...

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