Yekaterina Gamova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yekaterina Gamova
Yekaterina Gamova in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Yekaterina Aleksandrovna Gamova
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1980-10-17) October 17, 1980 (age 44) Chelyabinsk, Russia
Hometown	Yekaterinburg, Russia
Height	202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight	80 kg (180 lb)
Spike	350 cm (140 in)
Block	330 cm (130 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Opposite
Career
Years Teams 2000 - 2003 2003 - 2009 2009 - 2010 2010 - 2016 Uralochka-NTMK Dynamo Moscow Fenerbahçe Acıbadem Dinamo Kazan
National team
1999 - 2014 Russia
Honours Women's Volleyball Representing  Russia Olympic Games Silver 2000 Sydney Team Silver 2004 Athens Team World Championship Gold 2006 Japan Team Gold 2010 Japan Team Bronze 2002 Germany Team FIVB World Cup Silver 1999 Japan Team World Grand Champions Cup Silver 2001 Japan Team FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Gold 1999 Yu Xi Team Gold 2002 Hong Kong Team Silver 2000 Manila Team Silver 2003 Andria Team Silver 2006 Reggio Calabria Team Silver 2009 Tokyo Team Bronze 2001 Macau Team European Championship Gold 1999 Italy Team Gold 2001 Bulgaria Team Bronze 2005 Croatia Team Bronze 2007 Belgium/Luxembourg Team Summer Universiade Silver 1999 Palma de Mallorca Team World U20 Championship Gold 1997 Poland Under-20 Gold 1999 Canada Under-20 European Junior Championship Silver 1996 Turkey Under-19
Last updated: May 2016

Yekaterina Aleksandrovna Gamova, born on October 17, 1980, is a famous Russian volleyball player who has now retired. She was a key member of the Russian national team. With her team, she won gold medals at the World Championships in 2006 and 2010. She also earned silver medals at the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).

Yekaterina is known as the "Queen of Volleyball" because of her amazing height and how well she plays at the net. She is 2.02 meters (about 6 feet 8 inches) tall, making her one of the tallest female athletes in the world. She was also one of the highest-paid female volleyball players ever. She played as an opposite hitter, which is a powerful attacking position.

Gamova's Amazing Volleyball Career

Yekaterina Gamova played for several top volleyball clubs during her career. She also achieved great success with the Russian national team.

Playing for Dynamo Moscow

While playing for Dynamo Moscow, Gamova helped her team win a silver medal. This was at the 2008–09 CEV Indesit Champions League. She was also named the "Best Scorer" in that tournament. This means she scored the most points!

Time with Fenerbahçe Acıbadem

For the 2009-2010 season, Gamova joined the Turkish team Fenerbahçe Acıbadem. With this team, she won the Turkish League Championship. They also reached the final of the 2010 CEV Indesit Champions League. They finished in second place after losing to Volley Bergamo. Again, Gamova was honored as the "Best Scorer."

World Championship Success

Gamova was a vital part of the Russian national team that won the 2010 World Championship. Her outstanding performance led to her being named the "Most Valuable Player" (MVP) of the tournament. This is a huge honor for any athlete!

Playing for Dinamo Kazan

After the 2012 Olympics, Gamova thought about leaving the national team, but she kept playing for her club. She won the 2013–14 CEV Champions League with the Russian club Dinamo Kazan. They won by beating Rabita Baku and VakıfBank İstanbul. Gamova was named both the "Most Valuable Player" and "Best Scorer" in this competition.

Winning the Club World Championship

In 2014, Gamova and her team, Dinamo Kazan, won the gold medal at the FIVB Club World Championship. They defeated the Brazilian team Molico Osasco in the final match. Gamova was again recognized as the "Most Valuable Player" and the "Best Opposite Spiker" of the championship.

Retirement from Volleyball

In May 2016, Yekaterina Gamova announced that she was retiring from volleyball. She made this decision because of an injury. This meant she would not be able to play in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Gamova's Personal Life

On August 17, 2012, Yekaterina Gamova married Mikhail Mukasei. He is a Russian filmmaker and producer.

Clubs Gamova Played For

Here are the clubs Yekaterina Gamova played for during her career:

• Avtodor-Metar (1996 - 1998)
• Uralochka-NTMK 2 (1998 - 2000)
• Uralochka-NTMK (2000 - 2003)
• Dynamo Moscow (2003 - 2009)
• Fenerbahçe Acıbadem (2009 - 2010)
• Dinamo Kazan (2010 - 2016)

Awards and Honors

Yekaterina Gamova received many awards and honors throughout her career, both from the government and for her individual performance.

Government Awards

• Merited Master of Sports of Russia (2000)
• Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II class (2001)
• Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" I class (2006)
• Decoration of Honour for Services in the Development of Physical Culture and Sports (2016)

Individual Awards

• 2000 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best blocker"
• 2003 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best scorer"
• 2004 Olympic Games "Best scorer"
• 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best scorer"
• 2007 European Championship "Best scorer"
• 2008–09 CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four "Best scorer"
• 2009–10 CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four "Best scorer"
• 2010 FIVB World Championship "Most valuable player"
• 2013–14 CEV Champions League "Most valuable player"
• 2013–14 CEV Champions League "Best scorer"
• 2014 FIVB Club World Championship "Most valuable player"
• 2014 FIVB Club World Championship "Best opposite spiker"

National Team Medals

Junior Team

• 1999 Junior World Championship - Gold Medal

Senior Team

• 1999 World Grand Prix - Gold Medal
• 1999 FIVB World Cup - Silver Medal
• 2006 World Championship - Gold Medal
• 2010 World Championship - Gold Medal

Club Team Championships

• 1998, 1999, Russian League Championship - Champion, with Uralochka-NTMK 2
• 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, Russian Super League Championship - Champion, with Uralochka-NTMK
• 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09 Russian Super League Championship - Champion, with Dynamo Moscow
• 2009 Russian Cup - Champion, with Dinamo Moscow
• 2009-10 Turkish League Championship - Champion, with Fenerbahçe Acıbadem
• 2009-10 Turkish Cup Championship - Champion, with Fenerbahçe Acıbadem
• 2009 Turkish Super Cup Championship - Champion, with Fenerbahçe Acıbadem
• 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 Russian Super League Championship - Champion, with Dynamo Kazan
• 2010, 2012, 2016 Russian Cup - Champion, with Dinamo Kazan
• 2013 - 2014 CEV Champions League - Champion, with Dinamo Kazan
• 2014 FIVB Club World Championship - Champion, with Dinamo Kazan

See also

In Spanish: Yekaterina Gámova para niños

• List of tall women
• Russia women's national volleyball team
• Women's volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics