Regla Torres

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Torres and the second or maternal family name is Herrera.

Regla Torres
Torres Herrera in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Regla Radameris Torres Herrera
Born	(1975-02-12) 12 February 1975 Havana, Cuba
Hometown	Havana, Cuba
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	75 kg (165 lb)
Spike	331 cm (130 in)
Block	315 cm (124 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Front blocker
Number	10
Career
Teams Ciudad Habana
National team
1991–2002 Cuba
Medal record Women's volleyball Representing Cuba Olympic Games 1992 Barcelona Team 1996 Atlanta Team 2000 Sydney Team World Championship 1994 Brazil Team 1998 Japan Team FIVB World Cup 1991 Japan 1995 Japan Team World Grand Champions Cup 1993 Japan 1997 Japan FIVB World Grand Prix 1993 Hong Kong 2000 Quezon City 1994 Shanghai 1996 Shanghai 1995 Shanghai 1998 Hong Kong Pan American Games 1991 Havana Team 1995 Mar del Plata Team Central American and Caribbean Games 1998 Maracaibo Team

Regla Torres Herrera (born 12 February 1975) is a Cuban former volleyball player who won three Olympic gold medals with the Cuban women's national volleyball team. Torres began playing on the international circuit at the age of 14. As a middle blocker, she was a key player in the dominance of the Cuban national team of the 1990s.

In 2001, Torres was the recipient of the "Best Player of the 20th Century" award by the FIVB and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Early life

Torres was born in Havana, Cuba on 12 February 1975. Since she was a young girl, Torres was encouraged by teachers to play sports due to her height. Though her parents separated while she was in primary school, both were involved in her upbringing. While Torres was more interested in the high jump than volleyball, her mother insisted that she focus on the latter. In the fourth grade, Torres was sent to a sports school to develop her athletic talent. At the age of 14, she was sent to the Cerro Pelado school, where she quickly developed her volleyball skills. She then joined the national team in 1989.

Career

Olympic Games

Torres won her first Olympic gold medal in 1992 in Barcelona at the age of 17. She helped her team to additional gold medals at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, achieving the extraordinary feat of winning three Olympics in a row. She was selected as the best spiker at the Sydney Olympics.

Pan American Games

Torres helped the Cuban team to the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, at the age of 16. She won another gold medal with the national team at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata.

World Cups and World Championships

Torres helped Cuba win gold medals at the 1991 and 1995 FIVB World Cup in Japan. She also helped Cuba win the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil and the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan, and was selected as the MVP in both tournaments.

World Grands Prix

Torres won additional gold medals with the Cuban team at the 1993 and 2000 FIVB World Grand Prix in Japan.

Awards

• Three-time Olympic gold medal — 1992, 1996, 2000
• Two-time FIVB World Cup gold medal — 1991, 1995
• Two-time Pan American Games gold medal — 1991, 1995
• Two-time FIVB World Grand Prix gold medal — 1993, 2000
• Two-time FIVB World Championship gold medal — 1994, 1998
• Two-time FIVB World Championship MVP — 1994, 1998
• Olympic best spiker, MVP — Sydney 2000
• FIVB Best Player of the 20th Century — 2001
• International Volleyball Hall of Fame — 2001

External links

• Regla Torres at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame
• Regla Torres at FIVB.org World Championships Women 2002
• Regla Torres at Volleybox.net
• Regla Torres at Olympics.com
• Regla Torres at Olympedia