Jaqueline’s Revelations

Revelations we’ve never heard before.

Brazilian outside hitter and 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Jaqueline Carvalho, was recently interviewd by Marie Claire Brazil and revealed some unforgettable moments of her volleyball and professional life. With a very challenging year, her character and strength have inspired a lot of fans from all over the world.

Revelations we learned from the said one on one interview:

1. Jaque’s parents separated when she was only 5 years old. She and her sister have an adopted sibling named Maria Leticia.

2. She learned of her father’s death in 2009 when she was in Switzerland for an international tournament. Coach Guimaraes permitted her to go home to attend the funeral.

3. She was not the best student at school but fell in love with volleyball at 11.While playing for Team Recifer when she was 14, she was invited to play for a major youth tournament (Pernambuco). Then was formally invited to play in Osasco.

4. While training in Sao Paulo with Team Osasco, Jaque sent money to her family each time her team won a tournament.

5. Jaque idolizes the legendary Ana Moser.

6. At 17, she was voted as the best player of the Youth World Championship which Brazil won and was invited to play for the senior team. The following year in 2002, she seriously injured a vein in her right hand with doctors saying they might have to amputate it. She left volleyball for 3 months and went through intensive therapy to unblock the vein.

7. Between 2002 to 2004, the injuries she had prevented her from representing Brazil at the 2004 Olympic Games and Pan American Games.

8. She rejoined the Brazilian squad in 2005 and became a starter.

9. Two years later, Jaqueline received a devastating news that she was tested positive for doping, ie an appetite suppressant called sibutramine. Jaque was declared innocent after the laboratory figured out more about the substance (?). Instead of a 2 year suspension, she only received 3 months. She missed the Pan American Games which Brazil hosted but went to Japan for the FIVB World Cup and won a silver medal.

10. With all the trials she went through this year (miscarriage and serious neck injury), Jaque remains strong and sees herself as a warrior. She hopes to inspire others to never give up & strength helps overcoming obstacles in life.

She is definitely one of the strongest volleyball players we’ve ever known. The trials that came along her way were too much to take yet Jaque continued fighting and held on to her faith in God. Jaque’s revelations teach us to remain strong when facing our personal battles, to be surrounded with people who care and love you unconditionally and to believe that things happen for a reason.

If you want to read the full interview in Portuguese, click THIS.

We love you Jaque!

(image: Marie Claire Brazil)