CONTE Facundo

25 Aug 1989
31
Male
1.97/6'5''
BUENOS AIRES
 
Argentina
BUENOS AIRES
 
Argentina

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
VVO Volleyball Men 3 Bronze Medal

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Ariake Arena
ROC
ROC
3
ARG
Argentina
1
Finished
Finish On:  Jul 27
Ariake Arena
BRA
Brazil
3
ARG
Argentina
2
Finished
Ariake Arena
ARG
Argentina
3
FRA
France
2
Finished
Ariake Arena
ARG
Argentina
3
TUN
Tunisia
2
Finished
Finish On:  Aug 2
Ariake Arena
USA
United States
0
ARG
Argentina
3
Finished
Ariake Arena
ITA
Italy
2
ARG
Argentina
3
Finished
Ariake Arena
FRA
France
3
ARG
Argentina
0
Finished
Ariake Arena
ARG
Argentina
3
BRA
Brazil
2
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
Olympic Games
RankEventYearLocation
5Men2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA
5Men2012London, GBR

World Championship
RankEventYearLocation
9Men2010Italy
11Men2014Poland
15Men2018
:
Facu (fivbheroes.com, 11 Sep 2013; cluboctubre947.com, 19 Feb 2020)
:
Athlete
:
English, Italian, Spanish
:
Sada Cruzeiro [Contagem, BRA] since 2019/20
:
Marcelo Mendez [national, club], ARG
:
Wing spiker (Volleyball YouTube channel, 17 Dec 2019)
:
His father Hugo played volleyball internationally for Argentina and won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. His mother Sonia Escher also played the sport at international level, including at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela. (eldiario.com.ar, 26 Jul 2011; FIVB, 30 Jul 2012; sports-reference.com, 16 Apr 2016; fivb.com, 15 Sep 2015; SportsDeskOnline, 20 May 2020)
:
2008 for Argentina (skra.pl, 13 May 2013)
:
In mid-2015 he twisted his ankle and missed four weeks. (clarin.com, 12 May 2015)

He missed the 2013 World League after having surgery on his right shoulder. (mundod.lavoz.com.ar, 25 May 2013)

In 2010 a knee injury kept him out of competitive action for six months. (somosvoley.com, 16 Jun 2010; lanacion.com.ar, 29 Sep 2010)
:
Superliga [BRA] (agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br, 19 Mar 2020)
:
He began playing volleyball at age six. (ambito.com, 18 Jun 2012)
:
He followed his parents into the sport. "When we [him and sisters Camila and Manuela] were children we had a net in the garden, which at the very beginning was simply a string. We asked our father to teach us his skills. Tips, block out, everything. He was a good volleyball teacher. I played football, handball, practised swimming, but volleyball was what most attracted me, to the point where I have photos with a volleyball when I was a baby and practising with my father when I was six years old." (FIVB, 30 Jul 2012; ambito.com, 18 Jun 2012)
:
To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (volleyball.world, 05 Dec 2019)
:
His father Hugo Conte. (coarg.org.ar, 09 Nov 2012)
:
"There is no can't, won't or impossible." (FIVB, 30 Jul 2012)
:
He was named Best Outside Hitter of the 2016 Polish Cup while playing for Polish club PGE Skra Belchatow. (voleyplus.com, 07 Feb 2016)

He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (olympics.nbcsports.com, 13 Aug 2019)

He was named Best Outside Hitter at the 2015 South American Olympic qualifying tournament for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (fivb.org, 11 Oct 2016)

He was named Argentina's Player of the Year in 2011 and 2010. (somosvoley.com, 17 Dec 2010; voleyrosario.org.ar, 28 Dec 2011)

General Interest

General
SKILL OVER SIZE
He says the Argentinian national team have a style of play that is a result of being smaller in stature compared to other national teams. "We may have a broader view of the game, since we watched volleyball from a very young age. We have another understanding of the game, maybe seeing things or having certain natural reactions from reading the game faster than the other guys. We are not physically like Brazilians, Russians and Poles. We are always smaller. So all of this is a difficulty for us, but it also gives us another strength. I think grassroots work in Argentina is fundamental, we often play at a very good technical level. A few years ago, we were the best youth team in the world rankings, so I think that is what marks our identity." (hojeemdia.com.br, 21 Dec 2019)

PLAYING IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
After Argentina lost in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he moved to the People's Republic of China to play for Chinese Volleyball Super League side Shanghai Golden Age. He played two seasons there, winning two league titles, and he says the experience helped him overcome the disappointment of the 2016 Olympic Games. "I needed time for me. To find myself. To find time for myself without the national team and be a normal citizen. It felt good. Living like Facundo and not like Facundo Conte was nice. I was isolated because the Chinese regime is very closed and it is hard to communicate with social media blocked and internet restricted, but I think I was there for a reason, far away from everything. The experience was incredible. I had to invest that time and loneliness in myself. I went to yoga classes, I learned Tai chi, I meditated and found the desire, motivation and energy I needed. I'm over Rio." (clarin.com, 30 Aug 2018)

PARENTAL INFLUENCE
He says that despite his parents' background in international volleyball, he wasn't always sure about following in their footsteps. "When I was around 12 or 13 years old I almost quit. Being Hugo Conte's son was a heavy burden. Plus, people talked a lot and thought I played because of who I was. Over time I got over it and decided to make it my future because I really liked playing. Today I am what I am thanks to him and what he did. My mother and father are always there behind me following everything I do." In the 2006/07 season, he played alongside his father for Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires [GEBA], and they won the Argentine Serie A2 title together. (dxtv.gob.ar, 13 Oct 2015; ambito.com, 18 Jun 2012)

Legend
:
Bronze Medal
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos