Italy’s women’s volleyball team has written history, lifting the World Championship trophy for the first time in more than two decades. What made the triumph even more special were the raw, heartfelt words from the players and coach who lived every moment of the journey.
Anna Danesi, the captain who held the golden trophy high, was overwhelmed: “We can’t believe it ourselves. I’m holding the cup just to realize what we’ve done. We fought point by point, went through tough moments, but reacted like a great team. We wanted this with all our hearts, and we made it.”
Coach Julio Velasco couldn’t hide his pride in both the players and staff: “These girls worked with dedication and courage, even when things were tough. Everyone—coaches, medics, staff—played a part in this victory. This win gave me stronger emotions than the Olympics because it was such a long, demanding competition. It has a different and beautiful taste.”
The team’s brightest star, Paola Egonu, who led all scorers with 28 points in the final, admitted the moment was beyond words: “I’m proud of myself and the team. These matches were really tough, but we proved we wanted to win at all costs. We hadn’t won a World Championship since 2002—it’s been more than 20 years. This is an extraordinary result.”
Outside hitter Myriam Sylla, who contributed 17 points, underlined the fight it took: “If you want to be the best, you must fight, because nobody gives you anything. They prepared well against us, but we stayed in the match, gave everything, and brought home a title that means so much.”
For veteran libero Monica De Gennaro, emotions were almost too strong to describe: “Finishing like this is beautiful, though I can’t fully realize what happened yet. Yesterday was exhausting, and today they put us in real trouble, but somehow, we came through—maybe thanks to the daily tenacity we put into training. I can only say I’m truly happy.”
Italy’s World Championship triumph is more than a sporting victory. It’s a story of resilience, teamwork, and a group of women who refused to give up. And as their voices show, this is not just a win for Italian volleyball—it’s a memory that will live forever.
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