Stacy Sykora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stacy Sykora
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	Stacy Denise Sykora June 24, 1977 (1977-06-24) (age 48) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Volleyball information
Position	Libero
Number	5
National team
1999–2012  USA
Medal record Women's volleyball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 2008 Beijing Team World Championship Silver 2002 Germany Team FIVB World Cup Bronze 2003 Japan Team Bronze 2007 Japan Team FIVB World Grand Prix Gold 2001 Macau Team Gold 2010 Ningbo Team Bronze 2003 Andria Team Bronze 2004 Reggio Calabria Team Pan American Cup Gold 2003 Saltillo Gold 2012 Juárez Bronze 2010 Rosarito/Tijuana Final Four Cup Silver 2009 Lima

Stacy Denise Sykora (born June 24, 1977) is a retired American volleyball player. She was famous for her amazing defensive skills as a "libero" (a special defensive player). Stacy played for the U.S. women's national team in three Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in 2008. She also helped her team win gold medals in major international tournaments.

Stacy Sykora's Early Life

Stacy Sykora was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She grew up in Burleson with her two older sisters. From a young age, Stacy dreamed of becoming an Olympic athlete. She loved playing volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

After high school, Stacy received a scholarship to play volleyball at Texas A&M University. Her coach there was Laurie Flachmeier Corbelli, who had won a silver medal in volleyball at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

College Volleyball Career

Playing at Texas A&M University

While at Texas A&M University, Stacy Sykora was a talented athlete. She played volleyball, basketball, and even competed in track and field. She won a Big 12 Conference title in the heptathlon, which is a competition with seven different track and field events.

In her first year, Stacy played in almost all of the volleyball team's matches. She often led the team in "kills" (when a player hits the ball so it lands on the opponent's side) and "digs" (when a player saves a hard-hit ball from touching the ground).

As a sophomore, Stacy set a school record with 24 digs in one match. She also had a career-high 30 kills against Loyola Marymount, helping her team win. She was recognized as the Texas A&M Volleyball defensive player of the year.

In her junior and senior years, Stacy continued to be a top player. She led her team in digs and was one of the best in the country. She was named an AVCA Second-Team All-American twice, which means she was one of the best college volleyball players in the nation.

USA National Volleyball Team

Joining the National Team in 1999

In late 1998, a new position was created in volleyball called the "libero." This player specializes in defensive skills, like digging and passing. Stacy's college coach encouraged her to try out for this new role on the U.S. national team.

In January 1999, Stacy joined the USA women's volleyball team as a libero. In her first year, she had a team-high 456 digs. She was named the Best Receiver at one tournament and helped her team win a bronze medal at the Pan American Games.

Olympic Dreams and Success

In 2000, Stacy again led the team in digs. She was named Best Libero at a tournament that helped her team qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The team finished fourth at the Olympics, but Stacy was ranked second among all players for her 123 digs. She even reached her 1000th career dig during the bronze medal match.

The next year, 2001, was great for Stacy. She won several "Best Libero" and "Best Digger" awards at different tournaments. With her help, the team won first place at the NORCECA Championships and the World Grand Prix. After this, Stacy also started playing professionally in Italy.

In 2002, Stacy helped her team win a silver medal at the Women's Volleyball World Championships. She continued to play professionally in Italy during the off-season.

Road to the 2004 Olympics

During the 2003 season, Stacy led the USA team in digs. Her team won gold medals at the Pan American Cup and the NORCECA Zone Championships. They also earned bronze medals at the World Grand Prix and the World Cup, which secured their spot in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Stacy was again named Best Digger at a major tournament.

The U.S. national team was ranked first going into the 2004 Athens Olympics. However, they had a tough time and were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Despite the team's struggles, Stacy's individual performance was outstanding. She earned the "Best Digger" honor for the entire Olympic games. After the Athens Games, Stacy took a break from the national team.

Sykora during a match with the U.S. women's national team

Return and Olympic Silver

After three years away, Stacy returned to the U.S. women's national team in 2007. She played in the 2007 FIVB Women's World Cup in Japan, where the U.S. team finished in third place. This helped them qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. At the 2008 Olympics, the team reached the gold medal match, where they won a silver medal after a tough game against Brazil.

In 2010, Stacy continued to shine. She was named "Best Digger" and "Best Libero" at the 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship.

Injury and Retirement

In 2011, while playing for a Brazilian volleyball team called Vôlei Futuro, Stacy was seriously injured. The bus carrying her team overturned on its way to a match. Stacy suffered a head injury and bleeding in her brain. She was taken to the hospital and spent time in the intensive care unit.

After a week, Stacy's condition improved. She was able to breathe and eat on her own and could walk with help. She was eventually discharged from the hospital in May.

In December 2012, Stacy Sykora announced her retirement from professional volleyball. She explained that she had not fully recovered from the accident. She still had problems with her eyesight and had lost some of her reflexes, which made playing as a libero very difficult.

Awards and Honors

Stacy Sykora received many awards throughout her career for her incredible defensive skills:

• 2001 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Digger"
• 2001 NORCECA Championship "Best Receiver"
• 2004 Olympic Games "Best Digger"
• 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship "Best Libero"
• 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship "Best Digger"