The team captain and outside hitter is already a familiar name in Mexico
Published 04:30, 18 Aug 2023
The host team of the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship has a name that stands out at only 17 years of age, “Topete”, who has captured the eyes and support of the crowds in each of her performances.
This is Topete’s third FIVB World Championship appearance - her first was in 2019 in Egypt, and the second in 2021 in Durango, Mexico, both at the U18 age group.
The tournament is streamed live on the Volleyball World YouTube channel.
Mexican Aimé Topete in action against Japan
In her first FIVB World Championship in 2019 in Egypt, Topete was only twelve years old.
“The experience was wonderful, I was part of the Mexican team that qualified to Worlds winning the bronze medal at the U18 Women’s Pan American Cup, held here in Mexico, in Durango”.
Speaking of Durango, the host of the 2021 FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship, Topete was also Mexico’s team captain in her second World Championship.
“Being named captain was a great honor, I took that responsibility seriously, and I continue to do so now here in Leon”.
At the age of fifteen, Topete was called to join the Mexican senior national team by Brazilian head coach Rafael Petry.
“My first event at the senior level was last year in August, I was going to turn sixteen in October; it was at the Pan American Cup, also here in Mexico, in Sonora. Immediately after that, I traveled with the team to the Dominican Republic for the NORCECA Final Six Championship”.
Her experience in the senior national team has been a wonderful one, she explains.
“I've had the opportunity to be surrounded by teammates who have played at a professional level internationally, they have taught me a lot, and this has allowed me to have more confidence in my own age-group team. I’m able to provide more security to my team, motivating them on and off the court”.
When asked about her volleyball dream, she says with confidence, “My dream is to play professionally in the Italian League, I love Italian volleyball, and I'm working hard in preparing well to achieve it in the near future”.
Currently, Aimé Topete is studying in her last year of high school and will graduate next year. Her plans include studying at a university in the United States, “I have had conversations with several universities to study either Physiotherapy or Early Childhood Education, with a volleyball scholarship, of course”.
Regarding her family life, Topete mentions that she hasn’t been home since April.
“My sisters and mom are here in León, two of my sisters play volleyball too, and one plays basketball, we're a family of athletes” she added. “Having them here, supporting me and Mexico is a blessing, especially because of my commitments with the senior national team, which will still keep me away from home until November”.
**2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: Match Schedule and Results**
Aimé Tomete ready for the spike against Japan
Recently, Topete was in France with the Mexican national team, competing at the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup to earn a spot in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). She also competed in the recent Pan American Cup in Puerto Rico and will soon have two more significant commitments: the NORCECA Continental Championship in Canada at the end of August, and the World Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Paris Olympics in China in September.
She will finish the year at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, at the end of October and beginning of November.
Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Women's U21 World Championship
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