Like father, like son: Lucas Conde leaves mark on U19 Worlds

Lucas Conde has been instrumental in Argentina's performance so far at the 2021 FIVB Boys' U19 World Championship which continues in Iran as 18 teams vie for top honours and young talent from across the world showcase their skills for the first time before a global audience.

The 15-year-old turns 16 next month and can still play at this age group in the next edition of the World Championship in 2023 and the future does look long and bright - for the youngster has not fallen far from the tree.

His father, Martin, was a beach volleyball world champion in 2001 at Klagenfurt, where together with partner Mariano Baracetti they beat Brazil's Jose Loiola and Ricardo Santos in the final.

Martin Conde is a four-time Olympian, having represented Argentina at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

But choosing the indoor version instead of beach where his father had excelled was entirely Lucas' own choice.

"I like volleyball more than beach volleyball," he said. "My father never pushed me to play beach volley. This was my own choice."

However, Martin had been a deciding factor in his son's growth as a player.

"He [my father] helped me a lot in my short career history and I have learnt a lot from him to be able to get to the national youth team of Argentina," added Lucas. "As we live in Mar del Plata, a coastal resort south of Buenos Aires, he used to take me there and we trained together."

Lucas scored 9 points for Argentina in their opening match of the Boys' U19 World Championship against Egypt and was a key player again in their deciding match against Germany with another 13 points - including, rather fittingly, a tip over the block for match point.

The results see Argentina sit comfortably at the top of the standings in Pool D and on their way to the quarterfinals of the competition as they seek to replicate or improve their bronze medal performance of the previous edition two years ago.

But Lucas has even higher goals in his sight:

"My aspiration is to join the senior national team of Argentina, following in the footsteps of my volleyball idol Jan Martinez."

Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Boys' U19 World Championship 2021
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