Gasparini waves goodbye to volleyball

Thursday marked a bittersweet moment for Slovenian volleyball as one of its best players, Mitja Gasparini, officially said goodbye to the sport at his farewell match in Maribor, where Slovenia hosted Egypt as part of their preparations for the 2023 CEV Volleyball European Championship and the FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifier that follows shortly after. Gasparini's contributions on and off the court have left an indelible mark on volleyball and the hearts of volleyball fans not only in Slovenia.

Gasparini's remarkable volleyball journey started in Izola, where he followed the footsteps of his older brother Dejan, and took him across continents, from Greece, Italy and Poland to Korea, Japan and, finally, Iran. His volleyball path saw him proudly don the national team jersey an impressive 221 times during official matches, an achievement that speaks volumes of his 19-year-long commitment and loyalty to his country.

2.01m-tall Mitja Gasparini stands as a true legend in the world of volleyball through his incredible career achievements. His most remarkable feats include reaching the semifinals of Volleyball Nations League 2021, claiming two European Championship silver medals in 2015 and 2019, winning the Volleyball Challenger Cup trophy in 2019 and making it to three CEV European League podiums, further cementing his legacy as a truly exceptional volleyball player. A fitting conclusion to Gasparini's impressive career came in the form of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, jointly hosted by Slovenia and Poland, where his team finished at a historic fourth place.

Although Gasparini played his farewell match and waved goodbye to volleyball at the age of 39, he will stay loyal to the sport and will continue to pass his knowledge on to children through his volleyball academy Gaspa.

Quick links:
FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifier 2023
VBTV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube