Raúl Papaleo
Personal information
Full nameRaúl Papaleo Pérez
NationalityPuerto Rican
BornOctober 11, 1971 (1971-10-11) (age 52)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Beach volleyball information
Teammate
Ramón Hernández
Honours
Men's beach volleyball
Representing  Puerto Rico
NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit
Gold medal – first place 2008 Carolina Beach Beach
NORCECA Beach Volleyball Championship
Silver medal – second place 2006 Boca Chica Beach
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Santo Domingo Beach
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 San Salvador Beach

Raúl Papaleo Pérez (born October 11, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is considered by many islanders to be the all-time greatest beach volleyball player from Puerto Rico. He won the bronze medal in the men's beach team competition at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, partnering with Ramón Hernández.

College

Papaleo played college volleyball at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. He was an AVCA All-American in 1992 and 1993.[1] He led his team to MIVA titles in 1991 and 1992.[1] In 2007, Papaleo was inducted into the Purdue Fort Wayne Hall of Fame.[1]

Puerto Rican National Team

In 1990, Papaleo qualified to play for the Puerto Rican National Team which is governed by the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee. In 1995, Papaleo won the AVP qualifier in Denver, Colorado in Beach Volleyball. That same year, he played in the Pre-Olympic qualifier for Puerto Rico. In 1996 he was named AVP Rookie of the Year.

International competitions

In the Pan American Games held in the Dominican Republic in August 2003, Raúl Papaleo and his teammate, Ramon Hernandez, won the bronze Medal by defeating the U.S. team, represented by David Fischer and Brad Torsone, by 21-17 and 21–14 in 43 minutes.[2] Raúl Papaleo and Ramon Hernandez represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics which were held in Athens, Greece. This was the first time in the history of Puerto Rico that the island was represented with a Beach Volleyball Team in an Olympic competition.[3]

In his beach volleyball career, Papaleo won a total of $123,807 in prizes.[4]

Later years

When not playing internationally, Papaleo plays locally for the "Caribes de San Sebastián" in the "Liga Superior de Voleibol Masculino" (Superior League of Masculine Volleyball) of Puerto Rico. In 1999, he was awarded the "Gentleman of the Year Award" from the league. The basketball court, where volleyball is also played, of the José Gautier Benítez high school of Caguas is named after Raúl Papaleo.

He played the 2006 NORCECA Men's Beach Volleyball Continental Championship along with Joseph Gil. They finished in second place, after Gil suffered several injuries playing the semifinals.[5]

At the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit 2008, he completed an all Puerto Rican podium at the Carolina Beach Volleyball Tournament. He played with Ramón Hernández.[6] On July 11, 2008, Papaleo was contracted by the Guaynabo Mets of Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino (The Superior Masculine Volleyball League).[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Raul Papaleo". GoMastodons.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Pan American Games Beach Volleyball Wrap-Up". USA Volleyball. August 9, 2003. Archived from the original on December 10, 2003.
  3. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Raúl Papaleo". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  4. ↑ "Raul Papaleo Pérez". Beach Volleyball Database. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ↑ NORCECA Men's Continental Beach Volleyball Tournament 2006 – Boca Chica (DOM) – Men, NORCECA
  6. ↑ Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit 2008, NORCECA
  7. ↑ "Papaleo firma con los Mets" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
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