Cuban volleyball player Melissa Vargas has propelled the Turkish team to its first-ever Olympic semifinal in the sport, following a victory over China. The athlete from Cienfuegos, who has been a Turkish citizen since 2021, scored a remarkable 42 points in the nail-biting five-set win against the Asian powerhouse. Of these, 38 were in attacks, two in blocks, and another two in serves.
Sports journalist Francys Romero highlighted on social media that Vargas' achievement marks the second-highest score in a single match in Olympic history, only surpassed by Bárbara Jelic, who scored 44 points at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Romero further noted that Vargas is now the first player ever to have two games with 30+ points and one with 40+ points in the Summer Games.
Currently, the Cuban-born athlete stands as the top scorer in the event with 116 points, followed by China's Li Yingying (93 points) and Serbia's Tijana Boskovic (84 points). According to the world rankings by the prestigious volleyball magazine Volleybox, Vargas leads the list of the world's best players with 512 points, followed by Sweden's Isabelle Haak (487 points) and Italy's Paola Egonu (458 points).
Melissa Vargas: A Journey of Resilience
In her Olympic debut against the Netherlands, Vargas had already become the first volleyball player from the island to score 30 points or more in a single Olympic match. At just 24 years old, she became the 13th player worldwide to reach that milestone in an Olympic game.
Over the past six years, Melissa Vargas has transitioned from being sanctioned by the Cuban Sports Federation to being named the world's best player in 2023. Living and playing in Turkey since 2018, the young athlete had a stellar 2023, with significant victories in the Chinese Super League with club Tianjin and the Turkish League with Fenerbahçe. She also clinched a gold medal and MVP award in the Volleyball Nations League and achieved identical results in the European Championship, both with Turkey.
The Turkish national team, participating in its third Olympic Games, now relies on Vargas to potentially lead them to the podium.
Vargas debuted with the Cuban national team at just 13 years old in 2013. She was named the most outstanding player in the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2014. At 15, she received permission to play with the Czech Republic's VK Prostejov team.
In 2016, she was sanctioned by Cuban authorities after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery. Her parents disagreed with the recovery plan proposed by the Federation at the National Volleyball School and took her back to Cienfuegos. Consequently, the sports authorities downgraded her, preventing her from competing in international tournaments.
Later, Vargas faced another sanction from the Cuban Volleyball Federation, which banned her from competing for four years after she signed with the Swiss club Volero without the Federation's approval.
FAQs about Melissa Vargas and Olympic Volleyball
Here are some frequently asked questions about Melissa Vargas' remarkable journey and performance in Olympic volleyball.
Who is Melissa Vargas?
Melissa Vargas is a Cuban-born volleyball player who now represents Turkey. She has been a standout performer in the 2023 Olympic Games, leading Turkey to its first-ever semifinal in volleyball.
What are Melissa Vargas' achievements in the 2023 Olympics?
Melissa Vargas scored 42 points in a match against China, marking the second-highest score in a single Olympic match. She also leads the event in total points with 116.
Why was Melissa Vargas sanctioned by the Cuban Federation?
Melissa Vargas was sanctioned by the Cuban Federation due to disagreements over her recovery from a shoulder injury and later for signing with a Swiss club without the Federation's approval.
How has Melissa Vargas' career progressed since moving to Turkey?
Since moving to Turkey in 2018, Vargas has achieved numerous accolades, including being named the world's best player in 2023, winning gold medals in the Volleyball Nations League and the European Championship with Turkey.