Sérgio Santos (volleyball)

Sérgio Santos (volleyball)
Sérgio Dutra dos Santos, known as Serginho or Escadinha (born 15 October 1975) is a Brazilian former volleyball player and four-time Olympian. As a member of the Brazilian national volleyball team, he won gold medals at the 2004 and 2016 Olympics, and silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Additionally, Serginho is a two-time World Champion (2006, 2010), and a multimedalist of the World League, South American Championship, World Cup, and the Grand Champions Cup. In 2009, he became the first libero to be named Most Valuable Player in the history of the FIVB World League.
Career
Serginho is widely regarded as one of the best liberos of all time and is unquestionably the best libero of the 2000s, with more awards than any other libero. Known for his outstanding service reception and digging capabilities, teams often attempt to avoid Sergio when serving. Beyond his defensive abilities, he is also capable of running the offense as a 'second setter' if the setter is forced to make the first contact. This is in large part due to Sergio playing the setting position while growing up and subbing in as a setter for his professional club teams over the years.
Serginho is a multimedialist of every volleyball tournament in the 2000s. He is a seven-time South American Champion, and he won with Brazil every South American Championship during his whole career in the national team. In 2002 and 2006, he achieved titles of World Champion. During his career, he achieved seven gold and three silver medals of the FIVB World League.
In his achievements are also medals in World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, and Pan American Games.
In 2004, Serginho became an Olympic Champion for the first time. However, in the next two Olympics, the Brazilian national volleyball team won silver medals only. Serginho semi-retired from the national team after the 2012 Olympics, and returned only for the 2015 World League. After that he declined to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but was persuaded by Bernardinho to return. Bernardinho claimed that, while Serginho no longer had the agility that made him famous, he had experience and maturity to lead the team during a tournament that would certainly be rife with pressure on the Brazilian team, since they were playing on their country and coming from two losses on previous Olympics. Serginho was essential to motivate his team against France. They were losing, and on a break, Serginho told his colleagues that, while they all had at least one more chance at going to the Olympics, he didn't – those would be his last Olympic Games. Eventually, Brazil won the gold medal against Italy, and Serginho was acclaimed by the cheering fans, who called him king. After the match against Italy, Serginho was named the tournament's most valued player. He announced after the Rio finals against Italy he will play professionally for two more years.
Sporting achievements
Clubs
CEV Champions League
2007/2008 – with Copra Piacenza
CEV Top Teams Cup
2005/2006 – with Copra Piacenza
National championships
1993/1994 Brazilian Championship, with SE Palmeiras
1994/1995 Brazilian Championship, with SE Palmeiras
2001/2002 Brazilian Championship, with CRET São Caetano
2002/2003 Brazilian Championship, with CRET São Caetano
2004/2005 Italian Championship, with Copra Piacenza
2006/2007 Italian Championship, with Copra Piacenza
2007/2008 Italian Championship, with Copra Piacenza
2010/2011 Brazilian Championship, with SESI São Paulo
2012/2013 Brazilian Championship, with SESI São Paulo
2013/2014 Brazilian Championship, with SESI São Paulo
2014/2015 Brazilian Championship, with SESI São Paulo
National team
2001 America's Cup
2001 FIVB World League
2001 South American Championship
2002 FIVB World League
2002 FIVB World Championship
2003 Pan American Games
2003 FIVB World League
2003 South American Championship
2003 FIVB World Cup
2004 FIVB World League
2004 Olympic Games
2005 America's Cup
2005 FIVB World League
2005 South American Championship
2005 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
2006 FIVB World League
2006 FIVB World Championship
2007 Pan American Games
2007 FIVB World League
2007 South American Championship
2007 FIVB World Cup
2008 America's Cup
2008 Olympic Games
2009 FIVB World League
2009 South American Championship
2009 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
2010 FIVB World League
2010 FIVB World Championship
2011 FIVB World League
2011 South American Championship
2011 FIVB World Cup
2012 Olympic Games
2015 South American Championship
2016 FIVB World League
2016 Olympic Games
Individual
2001 Brazilian League – Best Libero
2001 America's Cup – Best Digger
2002 Brazilian League – Best Libero
2002 Brazilian League – Best Digger
2002 FIVB World League – Best Digger
2003 Brazilian League – Best Libero
2003 Brazilian League – Best Receiver
2003 Pan American Games – Best Libero
2003 FIVB World League – Best Digger
2003 FIVB World League – Best Receiver
2003 FIVB World Cup – Best Libero
2004 Olympic Games – Best Digger
2004 Olympic Games – Best Receiver
2004 Olympic Games – Best Libero
2006 CEV Top Teams Cup – Best Libero
2007 Pan American Games – Best Receiver
2007 Pan American Games – Best Libero
2007 South American Championship – Best Libero
2007 FIVB World Cup – Best Libero
2008 CEV Champions League – Best Libero
2008 America's Cup – Best Receiver
2008 America's Cup – Best Libero
2009 FIVB World League – Most Valuable Player
2009 South American Championship – Best Libero
2009 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup – Best Libero
2010 Brazilian League – Best Digger
2011 Brazilian League – Best Digger
2011 South American Club Championship – Best Digger
2011 South American Club Championship – Best Libero
2011 South American Championship – Best Digger
2011 South American Championship – Best Receiver
2011 South American Championship – Best Libero
2011 South American Championship – Most Valuable Player
2011 FIVB World Cup – Best Receiver
2011 FIVB Club World Championship – Best Receiver
2011 FIVB Club World Championship – Best Libero
2015 South American Championship – Most Valuable Player
2016 Olympic Games – Best Libero
2016 Olympic Games – Most Valuable Player
References
External links
FIVB profile
1975 births
Living people
Volleyball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Volleyball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Volleyball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic volleyball players for Brazil
Olympic gold medalists for Brazil
Olympic silver medalists for Brazil
Volleyball players at the 2003 Pan American Games
Volleyball players at the 2007 Pan American Games
Olympic medalists in volleyball
Brazilian men's volleyball players
Liberos
Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Pan American Games bronze medalists for Brazil
Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil
Volleyball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Expatriate volleyball players in Italy
Pan American Games medalists in volleyball
Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games