Boys U19 2021

Mikhail Labinskii: Volleyball is not a job, it's a life full of fun

Russia captain forges his future in the sport at the 2021 Boys' U19 World Championship

Published 07:08, 26 Aug 2021

Captain Mikhail Labinskii alongside teammate Mikhail Sidorenko as Russia prepare to serve against Bulgaria at the 2021 FIVB Boys' U19 World Championship in Tehran.

Mikhail Labinskii is the leading scorer of the 2021 FIVB Boys' U19 World Championship after the first few rounds of play at the competition, which continues in the Iranian capital of Tehran until 2 September when it culminates with the crowning of the new world champions.

The 18-year-old, who grew up through the ranks of Russia's prestigious club of Zenit Kazan in Tatarstan, scored match highs of 26 points against Belgium and added another 23 against Bulgaria's in his side's deciding opening matches in Tehran.

He brought in an additional two points against Cameroon against which he only started in the first set.

Mikhail Labinskii celebrates with passion before teammate Kirill Vlasov as Russia beat Bulgaria at the 2021 FIVB Boys' U19 World Championship in Tehran.

"My family enrolled me in volleyball courses at school when I was 7 years old and I got to love volleyball," said Labinskii, who is captaining Russia in Tehran after three years with the country's national youth team.

Labinskii looks up to his idols as he embarks on a career hoping to bring him to new heights - his dream an Olympic gold medal with Russia.

"I like Maxim Mikhaylov and he is my idol," says Labinskii. "But my volleyball style looks more like [France's Earvin] Ngapeth, as I think volleyball means life and he lives with volleyball and I am like this."

"Volleyball for me is not a job. It's a life full of fun."