August 6th, 2013

It’s official!

Last July 31st, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist and one of the world’s most popular liberos announced her retirement. Sports Illustrated released this statement from Sykora:

“I was just holding on to it and I could not let it go. I just thought, well, maybe I can play again. Maybe, maybe, maybe,” she said. “I always had these high hopes and these dreams that I would play again.”

On not making it to the 2012 Olympics:

“Looking back, I just wasn’t ready. My vision was still bad,” she told The Associated Press. “I was just upset because it wasn’t my choice. I didn’t get to retire; I had it taken it away from me. It wasn’t like I wasn’t good enough, I couldn’t play volleyball. I couldn’t even try. That battle couldn’t be fought. That’s why London was so hard on me.”

As for her future…

“I’ve always said my life has been so wonderful, because every time a door has closed on me another would open and I’m about to walk througth with a smile.”

Her volleyball journey…

“The greatest thing was those four years leading up to the Olympics, that voyage,” she said. “You get to see all these countries and meet all these people. You get to experience so many things, and see so many things and do so many things. And you do it together as a team. That’s what I will remember the most.”

Click here to read the full article.

December 12th, 2012

We didn’t see this coming…

Stacy’s volley life has NEVER been the same since that forgettable bus accident in Brazil last year (April 12, 201). Her post-accident life affected her chances of making it to her 4th Olympics in London despite the various therapies she has undergone.

Yesterday, the 35 year old Sykora officially announced that it’s time to end her volleyball career.

“I’m going to start taking care of my life. From ‘A’ to ‘Z’, I’ll start at ‘A’. I do not know what I’ll do, but whatever, I’ll try to do the best in the technical field or even as a lawyer. I don’t really know but I want to be great at what I do.

I have always given 100% of myself. This was my philosophy of life.”

In her official statement released by volleyball.it, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist openly admits that her vision is the main culprit to her retirement.

“Today my view no longer allows me to see better and to give my best. I cannot play volleyball if I cannot see well. It’s not a decision that I chose but I must obliged.

It’s life.

That accident changed my life. I played at my best level. I’m Not sorry for what happened. It was not my choice, but I’ve learned that I must live better now. I do not know when that might end. I almost died.”

Sykora’s major achievements with Team USA:

Gold: Grand Prix (2010), Silver: World Championship (2002) and Beijing Olympics (2008). Best libero and receiver of the World Cup (2010) and best receiver of the Athens Olympics (2004).

We’re very sad to hear this news but at the same time we respect her decision.

Stacy is scheduled to leave her Italian club team, Urbino, in the next few days and will start a new life in the US of A with her girlfriend.

We already missed her in London and now we’re going to forever miss her amazing and exciting presence on the volleyball court.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much Stacy for all the volleyball memories you’ve showed and shared to us over the years!

You’re one amazing athlete, a talented libero and a very strong person.

<3

(source: volleyball.it/ images: fivb & pallavoliamo.it)