Raúl Papaleo
| Raúl Papaleo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Raúl Papaleo Pérez | ||
| Nationality | Puerto Rican | ||
| Born | October 11, 1971 (age 52) San Juan, Puerto Rico | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Beach volleyball information | |||
| |||
Raúl Papaleo Pérez (born October 11, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is considered by many islanders to be the all-time greatest beach volleyball player from Puerto Rico. He won the bronze medal in the men's beach team competition at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, partnering with Ramón Hernández.
College[edit]
Papaleo played college volleyball at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. He was an AVCA All-American in 1992 and 1993.[1] He led his team to MIVA titles in 1991 and 1992.[1] In 2007, Papaleo was inducted into the Purdue Fort Wayne Hall of Fame.[1]
Puerto Rican National Team[edit]
In 1990, Papaleo qualified to play for the Puerto Rican National Team which is governed by the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee. In 1995, Papaleo won the AVP qualifier in Denver, Colorado in beach volleyball. That same year, he played in the Pre-Olympic qualifier for Puerto Rico. In 1996, he was named AVP Rookie of the Year.[2]
International competitions[edit]
In the Pan American Games held in the Dominican Republic in August 2003, Raúl Papaleo and his teammate, Ramon Hernandez, won the bronze Medal by defeating the U.S. team, represented by David Fischer and Brad Torsone, by 21–17 and 21–14 in 43 minutes.[3] Raúl Papaleo and Ramon Hernandez represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics which were held in Athens, Greece. This was the first time in the history of Puerto Rico that the island was represented with a Beach Volleyball Team in an Olympic competition.[4]
In his beach volleyball career, Papaleo won a total of $123,807 in prizes.[2]
Later years[edit]
When not playing internationally, Papaleo plays locally for the "Caribes de San Sebastián" in the "Liga Superior de Voleibol Masculino" (Superior League of Masculine Volleyball) of Puerto Rico. In 1999, he was awarded the "Gentleman of the Year Award" from the league. The basketball court, where volleyball is also played, of the José Gautier Benítez high school of Caguas is named after Raúl Papaleo.
He played the 2006 NORCECA Men's Beach Volleyball Continental Championship along with Joseph Gil. They finished in second place, after Gil suffered several injuries playing the semifinals.[5]
At the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit 2008, he completed an all Puerto Rican podium at the Carolina Beach Volleyball Tournament. He played with Ramón Hernández.[6] On July 11, 2008, Papaleo was contracted by the Guaynabo Mets of Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino (The Superior Masculine Volleyball League).[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Raul Papaleo". Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Raul Papaleo Pérez". Beach Volleyball Database. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Pan American Games Beach Volleyball Wrap-Up". USA Volleyball. August 9, 2003. Archived from the original on December 10, 2003.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Raúl Papaleo". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
- ^ NORCECA Men's Continental Beach Volleyball Tournament 2006 – Boca Chica (DOM) – Men, NORCECA
- ^ Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit 2008, NORCECA
- ^ "Papaleo firma con los Mets" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
External links[edit]
- U.S. Volleyball News
- Raúl Papaleo at the Beach Volleyball Database
- Raúl Papaleo at the FIVB beach volleyball database
- Raúl Papaleo at Olympedia
- Raul Papaleo at Olympics.com
- Purdue Hall of Fame Profile
- 1971 births
- Living people
- Puerto Rican men's beach volleyball players
- Beach volleyball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Olympic beach volleyball players for Puerto Rico
- Beach volleyball players at the 2003 Pan American Games
- Sportspeople from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Pan American Games bronze medalists for Puerto Rico
- Pan American Games medalists in volleyball
- Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Puerto Rico
- Competitors at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games
- Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in beach volleyball
- Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games
- 21st-century Puerto Rican people