Regla Torres Herrera

She is a Cuban volleyball player who won 3 consecutive Olympic gold medals (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000). In 2001 she was named the best player of the 20th century by the FIVB and elected to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States.

She was born in Ciudad de La Habana, did not like sports, but at the age of 8 she began to practice volleyball on the recommendation of her mother, who decided to take her to the Pre-EIDE Camilo Cienfuegos. She preferred athletics, at 14 years old she participated in the National School Games and her abilities allowed her to enter the EIDE Mártires de Barbados, where she was trained by Jorge Lazada. Later she joined Cuba's national team.

She made her debut with the Morenas del Caribe at only 17 years old in the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, wearing number 10, and played in the final against the team of the Commonwealth of Independent States, becoming the youngest player in history to win an Olympic gold medal in volleyball.

Regla stood out on the team alongside Mireya Luis. Her position was middle attacker, also excelling in blocking. She always gave her all for her team, her dedication and skill on the court make her still remembered today.

As an athlete, she was a member of the women's volleyball team that won Gold medals at the Olympic Games in Barcelona '92, Atlanta '96, and Sydney '00. She also participated in obtaining two World Championships and four Universe Cups.

She was selected as the most outstanding player of the 20th Century by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

She measures 1.91 m in height and has been approached to participate as a model in the traditional Havana Festival events held every year in Ciudad de La Habana, where personalities from many countries around the world gather.

She always gave the best of herself, her dedication and skill on the court make her still remembered and recognized internationally.

Achievements

OLYMPICS
.Gold Medal at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
.Gold Medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
.Gold Medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
.Gold Medal at the Youth World Championship in Brazil 1993. Best Attacker and Most Valuable Player.
.Gold Medal at the World Championship in Brazil 1994. Best Blocker.
.Gold Medal at the World Championship in Japan 1995. Best Attacker and Most Valuable Player.

GRAND PRIX
.Gold Medal at the Grand Prix in 1993. Best Server.
.Gold Medal at the Grand Prix in 2000.
.Silver Medal at the Grand Prix in 1994, 1996, and 1997. Best Blocker.
.Bronze Medal at the Grand Prix in 1995 and 1998.

CHAMPIONS CUP
.Gold Medal at the Champions Cup in 1993. Best Receiver.
.Silver Medal at the Champions Cup in 1997.

PANAMERICAN GAMES
.Gold Medal at the Panamerican Games in La Habana 1991.
.Gold Medal at the Panamerican Games in Mar de Plata 1995.
.Silver Medal at the Panamericans in Winnipeg 1999.

CENTRAL AMERICAN GAMES
.Gold Medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Ponce 1993.
.Gold Medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Maracaibo 1998. Most Valuable Player and Best Blocker.

.Honored by the International Volleyball Federation, FIVB as the most outstanding athlete of the 20th Century. This title was won for the versatility she possessed; she could be counted on in the field for any emergency, as she was a great middle attacker, also dominated in receiving and serving.

.Elected to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States.

.A statue was made in recognition of her work as a volleyball player at the XX Anniversary of the Masters Tournament in Montreux, Switzerland 2004.

She retired young, before reaching 28 years of age, as she had several injuries in her left knee, having been operated on for the third time, which prevented her from playing as she had done until the 2000 Olympics.

She stood out for her dedication and discipline both during training sessions and on the court.

Currently she is a coach for the capital city team and the National women's team along with Eide George and Carlos Gala Technical Director. She has ventured into sports commentary, making her first presentation on the radio station Radio Rebelde, during the World Volleyball League.