Sérgio Santos (volleyball)
Sérgio Dutra dos Santos, known as Serginho or Escadinha is a Brazilian former volleyball player and four-time Olympian. As a member of the Brazilian national volleyball team, he won gold medals at the [Volleyball at the Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's volleyball|2004 Summer Olympic Games|Olympics – Men's volleyball|2004] and [Volleyball at the Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2016] Olympics, and silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Additionally, Serginho is a two-time World Champion, and a multimedalist of the World League, South American Championship, World Cup, and the Grand Champions Cup. In 2009, he became the first libero to be named Most Valuable Player in the history of the FIVB World League.
Career
Serginho is widely regarded as one of the best liberos of all time and is unquestionably the best libero of the 2000s, with more awards than any other libero. Known for his outstanding service reception and digging capabilities, teams often attempt to avoid Sergio when serving. Beyond his defensive abilities, he is also capable of running the offense as a 'second setter' if the setter is forced to make the first contact. This is in large part due to Sergio playing the setting position while growing up and subbing in as a setter for his professional club teams over the years.Serginho is a multimedialist of every volleyball tournament in the 2000s. He is a seven-time South American Champion, and he won with Brazil every South American Championship during his whole career in the national team. In 2002 and 2006, he achieved titles of World Champion. During his career, he achieved seven gold and three silver medals of the FIVB World League.
In his achievements are also medals in World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, and Pan American Games.
In 2004, Serginho became an Olympic Champion for the first time. However, in the next two Olympics, the Brazilian national volleyball team won silver medals only. Serginho semi-retired from the national team after the 2012 Olympics, and returned only for the 2015 World League. After that he declined to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but was persuaded by Bernardinho to return. Bernardinho claimed that, while Serginho no longer had the agility that made him famous, he had experience and maturity to lead the team during a tournament that would certainly be rife with pressure on the Brazilian team, since they were playing on their country and coming from two losses on previous Olympics. Serginho was essential to motivate his team against France. They were losing, and on a break, Serginho told his colleagues that, while they all had at least one more chance at going to the Olympics, he didn't – those would be his last Olympic Games. Eventually, Brazil won the gold medal against Italy, and Serginho was acclaimed by the cheering fans, who called him king. After the match against Italy, Serginho was named the tournament's most valued player. He announced after the Rio finals against Italy he will play professionally for two more years.
Sporting achievements
Clubs
CEV Champions League
- 2007/2008 – with Copra Piacenza
CEV Top Teams Cup
- 2005/2006 – with Copra Piacenza