Eugenio George Lafita
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Full name | Rafael Eugenio George Lafita | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Volleyball guru | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Cuban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | 29 March 1933 Havana, Cuba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation | Volleyball coach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Eugenio George Lafita (29 March 1933 – 1 June 2014), also known as Eugenio George, was a
Early life
George was born on 29 March 1933, in Baracoa, Cuba.[6] He began playing volleyball in 1947 at the Pepe Barrientos Gymnasium in the Luyano neighborhood in Havana.[7] He played on the Cuban national volleyball team for a few years, and participated in the 1955 and 1959 Pan American Games.[7]
Coaching
Cuban men's national team
George's coaching career began in 1963 with the Cuban men's junior team. He built up the foundation of the Cuban men's volleyball team that took the gold medal at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[7]
Cuban women's national team
In 1968, George took charge of the Cuban women's national volleyball team.[7][8] Under the management of George, the Cubans clinched titles at the
NORCECA
George was the president of the
In 2009, the NORCECA Congress in Antigua, Guatemala established the "Eugenio George Lafita Trophy" to the Most Outstanding Coach of the biennial Women's Continental Championship.[10]
Personal life
For more than 40 years, George was married to Graciela González until her death in 2007.[11]
Death
George died in Havana on June 1, 2014, at the age of 81, after a fight with cancer.[12]
References
- ^ International Volleyball Federation. 18 August 2008. Archivedfrom the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ a b "'The Spectacular Caribbean Girls': Cuba's three volleyball golds in a row". Olympics.com. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- NORCECA. 14 March 2014. Archivedfrom the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Best Volleyball Teams — Which are the Best Teams Ever?". Volleyballadvisors.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archivedfrom the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the originalon 22 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ International Volleyball Federation. Archived from the originalon 7 June 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Legendary Cuban volleyball coach passes away". Amateursport.wordpress.com. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ Coll Untoria, Jorge Luis (24 April 2023). "Mireya Luis' great jump". Oncubanews.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ a b "RIP Coach Eugenio George". Volleywood.net. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ^ "Ms. Graciela González, wife of Eugenio George, passed away in Cuba". NORCECA. 2 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007.
- ^ "Eugenio George, heart of the Cuban school volleyball, died". Oncubanews.com. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2014.