Randy Gingera facts for kids
Randal ("Randy") John Gingera was born on April 25, 1968, in Calgary, Alberta. He is a famous former volleyball player from Canada. Randy was a key player for the Canada men's national volleyball team for many years. He also played as a star for the University of Calgary Dinos team.
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A College Volleyball Star
Randy Gingera was known as "Kid Volleyball" during his college years. He played for the University of Calgary Dinos. He was chosen as a Canada West All-Star three times. This means he was one of the best players in his college league.
In 1988 and 1989, he was named a CIAU All-Canadian. This means he was one of the top college players in all of Canada. In 1989, he was voted the best player in both Canada West and the CIAU. That year, his Dinos team had an amazing season. They were undefeated, meaning they didn't lose any games. Their only loss was to UCLA at a tournament in Santa Barbara.
Playing for Canada
Randy Gingera was a strong player, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall. He played as a right-handed outside hitter. This position involves hitting the ball over the net from the side. He was a member of the Canadian national team for eight years.
He proudly represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain, that year. The Canadian team finished tenth in the volleyball tournament. They played some very close matches. For example, they lost a tough five-set match to the United States. They also lost two other five-set matches. Because of these close losses, they just missed out on reaching the quarterfinals.
Professional Volleyball Career
After his time with the national team, Randy Gingera played professional volleyball for six years. He played in different countries around the world.
He spent two years playing professionally in Belgium. Then, he played for two years in Japan. Finally, he played for two years in France. In France, he played for two different teams. He played for Tourcoing during the 1996-1997 season. The next season, he played for Stade Poitevin.
Life After Volleyball
After finishing his career as a professional volleyball player, Randy Gingera went back to school. He returned to the University of Calgary. In 2000, he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Fine Arts. He continued his studies and, in 2005, he completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Environmental Design.
Sources
- www.godinos.com
- www.ucalgary.ca
- Canadian Olympic Committee webpage profile
- www.explorare.net
- sports-reference
