Paris 2024: Ones to Watch in sitting volleyball

The sitting volleyball players you should be looking out for when the next Paralympics kick off in France in less than 100 days 31 May 2024

By IPC

With the countdown to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games well and truly in the final stages, our Sport Weeks provide you with the perfect guide to each of the competitions being contested in France. To round off this week, here are the sitting volleyball players to look out for this summer.

Men's event

Morteza Mehrzadselakjani (Islamic Republic of Iran)

A tall sitting volleyball player returns a serve over the net as his teammates and opponents follow the move with their eyes. — Mehrzadselakjani, centre. @Joe Toth/OIS

The tallest player in sitting volleyball - and talisman of the Iranian team - returns to the Paralympics in Paris looking for a third straight gold to add to his multiple world and Asian Para Games titles.

Ermin Jusufovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Male sitting volleyball players form a circle on court — Jusufovic, centre. @World ParaVolley

The veteran Bosnian is a six-time Worlds medallist and has made the podium at every one of the previous five editions of the Games, including bronze at Tokyo 2020.

Gilberto Lourenco da Silva (Giba) (Brazil)

A male sitting volleyball athlete smashes a ball while a player in the opposing team blocks it — Lourenco da silva, centre. ©Ale Cabral/CPB

One of the main driving forces behind Brazil’s improvement in sitting volleyball, having led the country to back-to-back fourth places at the Paralympics, as well as to a bronze at the World Championships in 2022.

Hesham Elshwikh (Egypt)

A male sitting volleyball player greets a teammate — @World ParaVolley

The six-time Games veteran was the flagbearer for Egypt at the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony. With double world and Paralympic bronze medals already under his belt, he’ll be aiming for more hardware at his seventh Paralympics in Paris. 

Women's event

Nathalie Filomena (Brazil)

A close up shot of a female sitting volleyball player on court — @World ParaVolley

The three-time Paralympian led Brazil to an historic first world title in 2022 to secure the nation’s place at Paris 2024, where they will hope to better their bronze medal from Tokyo 2020.

Heidi Peters (Canada)

A female sitting volleyball athlete returns the ball during competition — @Atsushi Tomura/ Getty Images

The two-time Paralympian narrowly missed out on the podium at Tokyo 2020 after Canada finished fourth behind Brazil. The team bounced back to reach the Worlds final in 2022, losing again to Brazil to claim the silver medal.

Sara Cirelli (Italy)

A female sitting volleyball athlete holds a ball before serving — @World ParaVolley

She was named Most Valuable Player at the Golden Nations League ahead of leading Italy to European gold on home soil in 2023. Paris 2024 will be her second Paralympics after Italy made their debut in the women’sitting volleyball tournament at Tokyo 2020.

Silvia Biasi (Italy)

A female sitting volleyball athlete tries to return a ball — @World ParaVolley

Another returnee from Tokyo 2020, where the Italian women's team competed for the first time at the Paralympics.

Liliane Mukobwankawe (Rwanda)

Female sitting volleyball serving the ball — @World ParaVolley

The two-time Paralympian is a trailblazer for African sitting volleyball and was recognised as Rwanda’s outstanding women’s sport’s personality in 2023.

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website.