EGONU Paola Ogechi

18 Dec 1998
22
Female
1.93/6'3''
CITTADELLA
 
Italy
TREVISO
 
Italy

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
VVO Volleyball Women 6

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Ariake Arena
ROC
ROC
0
ITA
Italy
3
Finished
Ariake Arena
ITA
Italy
3
TUR
Turkey
1
Finished
Ariake Arena
ITA
Italy
3
ARG
Argentina
0
Finished
Finish On:  Aug 1
Ariake Arena
CHN
China
3
ITA
Italy
0
Finished
Ariake Arena
USA
United States
3
ITA
Italy
2
Finished
Ariake Arena
SRB
Serbia
3
ITA
Italy
0
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
Olympic Games
RankEventYearLocation
9Women2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA

Nations League - Final Round
RankEventYearLocation
5Women2019People's Republic of China

World Grand Prix
RankEventYearLocation
2Women2017

European Championship
RankEventYearLocation
3Women2019
5Women2017
:
Athlete, Student
:
Business Administration
:
English, Italian
:
Imoco Volley Conegliano [Novara, ITA] since 2019/20
:
Daniele Santarelli [club], ITA; Davide Mazzanti [national], ITA
:
Opposite spiker (legavolleyfemminile.it, 25 Jan 2020)
:
2015 for Italy (forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019)
:
Serie A1 [ITA] (legavolleyfemminile.it, 25 Jan 2020)
:
She began playing volleyball at age 12 in Cittadella, Italy. (lacittanuova.milano.corriere.it, 18 Aug 2015; forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019)
:
She was inspired to try the sport after watching Japanese cartoon 'Attacker You!', which features volleyball. "I was a shy and reserved 12-year-old girl, and being among so many unknown girls was not comfortable for me. I swore I wouldn't come back to the hall. [But later] It sparked a fire in me. I began having fun and less than a year later I was invited to a regional day camp in order to be spotted by top coaches." (mattinopadova.gelocal.it, 14 Jan 2016; vanityfair.it, 20 Jun 2017, 19 Oct 2018)
:
To win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. She also aspires to work as a lawyer. (forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019; vanityfair.it, 19 Oct 2018)
:
She trains up to five hours a day, split between two sessions. (mentinfuga.com, 21 May 2020)
:
Winning the 2019 Champions League with Igor Gorgonzola Novara. (forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019)
:
Former First Lady of the United States of America Michelle Obama, US tennis player Serena Williams. (huffingtonpost.it, 25 Oct 2018)
:
She was named the 2019 Woman of the Year by Italian newspaper 'La Repubblica'. (trevisotoday.it, 12 Dec 2019; Instagram profile, 20 Dec 2019)

She was named Best Player of the 2019 Champions League Final in Berlin, Germany. (forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019)

She received the Best Opposite Spiker award at the 2018 World Championships in Japan. (forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019)

She was named the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the 2017/18 Italian Cup. (forbes.it, 04 Jul 2019)

She received the Best Outside Spiker and Most Valuable Player [MVP] awards at the 2015 U18 World Championships in Lima, Peru. (repubblica.it, 09 May 2016)

General Interest

General
FUTURE PLANS
She aspires to work as a lawyer following her retirement from competitive volleyball. "I dream to become a lawyer. I suffer so much for injustices towards common people. Fighting for someone who is disadvantaged is something that makes me feel good. In my interviews I have openly talked about racism, and I think I have helped many girls that feel my same discomfort but who do not have the courage to express it." (vanityfair.it, 20 Jun 2017, 19 Oct 2018)

HERITAGE
She was born in Cittadella, Italy, to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother. "I am Italian with African roots. Every two years I go to Nigeria to see my grandparents and cousins. My family is proud of me. When I took my jersey from the junior worlds to my grandfather, he was crying. They are my big strength." (mentinfuga.com, 21 May 2020; repubblica.it, 09 May 2016, panorama.it, 14 Jan 2016)

Legend
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
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