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Beach volleyball 11/07/2013

Beach volleyball pioneer Jackie Silva returns to Portugal

Porto, Portugal, July 10,
2013 - Jacqueline Louise Cruz Silva, better known as Jackie Silva, was one of
the pioneers of Brazilian beach volleyball. A colourful and hot-blooded player
who was a true ambassador for her country and beach volleyball. Now, at the age
of 51, she is helping Jamaica warm up to the sport.

Silva retired in 2004 having
gathered 12 gold medals on the World Tour, two World Tour titles in 1995 and
1996, the World Championship title in 1997 and a gold medal at the first Olympic
beach volleyball tournament in 1996.

One of the many World Tour
events she won with team partner Sandra Pires was the Espinho tournament in
Portugal in 1996. Now, 17 years later, she returns to Portugal as a coach at
the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in Porto.

Exchange programme

“I own a beach volleyball
school in Rio de Janeiro, but I also coach teams from Jamaica”, Silva said. “This
is part of an exchange programme that Brazil signed with the Caribbean island.“

“I started just a month ago
and it’s totally different because the sport is not very widespread in Jamaica.”

Silva came with two Jamaican
teams to the U19 World Championships in Porto, 14-year old Tionna Graham and
Lisanne Roofe and Rojey Hutchinson and Bryan Shavar, both 16.

“The girls are very young and
inexperienced, but the boys are talented and ambitious. The goal is to
participate and gain experience in preparation for the Youth Olympic Games.”
This event is staged in August next year in Nanking, China.

Observe, participate and
dream

“I want these athletes to
experience the competition, to observe, to dream about reaching higher,
participate and feel the competition, because this experience will be very
important for their future.”

According to Silva beach
volleyball has grown a lot since she retired. "Since me and Sandra won the
first Olympic tournament, in 96, the sport has evolved. Beach volleyball is
better now, with the rise of some countries, especially the Europeans, who had
no great tradition in this sport.”

“Brazil and the United States
are no longer the only powerhouses. The Chinese women, who had no tradition in beach
volleyball, are also very strong now.”

Players and agents at the
same time

The entourage also changed. “Before
we were players and agents at the same time. I have to say that it had its
advantages because it made most athletes responsible, creative and spontaneous.”

Silva has fond memories of
Portugal. She competed at five World Tour events in Espinho, winning the 1996
edition with Sandra Pires.

"I know the city of
Espinho very well, but this beach in Porto is more like those in Rio de
Janeiro. I love Portugal, I am able to speak Portuguese and I just love the Portuguese
food; cod, sardines and of course accompanied by a good beer."

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