Gabriela Pérez del Solar

Gabriela Lourdes Pérez del Solar Cuculiza (born July 10, 1968 in Ica) is a Peruvian female volleyball player and politician. On July 27, 2006 she assumed a position in the Peruvian Congress in the Unidad Nacional party.

Sports career

Perez del Solar began to play volleyball at 14 years old. Her 194 cm stature made her a great and internationally respected blocker. Solar began to show her abilities for this sport in the Volleyball World Cup in Japan in 1985, and at just 17 years old was chosen as the best blocker of the match. She was a member of the team that won the silver medal in the Olympic Games of Seoul 1988. She retired from the Peruvian team after winning the South America Volleyball Championship in 1993 in Cuzco.

In Italy

After retiring in Peru, Perez del Solar began playing in Italy. She was invited to become a member of the Italian national team, but rejected the offer.

Political Life

In 2005, the then presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano invited Perez del Solar to run for Congress and she accepted. In the general elections of the 2006 she was elected with the highest number of votes in her district and fifth most number of votes at the national level. In April 2006, she was presented as a member of the Unidad Nacional, in a ceremony prepared by Xavier Barrón and Lourdes Flores.

Awards

She has attended five South American Championships (winning in four occasions), two Volleyball World Championship (third in 1986) and two Olympic Games (Silver medal in 1988).

Club

*3 Italian Cups (1990, 1991, 1993)

Awards

* "1986 World Championship "Best Blocker""

Career Summary

National Team

*1984: 4th place in the Olympic Games of Los Angeles
*1985: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Caracas
*1985: 5th place in World Cup in Japan ("Best blocker")
*1986: Bronze Medal. World Championship in Czechoslovakia
*1987: Silver medal in Pan American Games in Indianapolis
*1987: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Montevideo
*1987: Gold Medal. Japan Cup ("Best spiker")
*1988: Silver medal in the Olympic Games of Seoul ("Best reception")
*1988: Bronze medal in Top Four
*1989: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Curitiba
*1989: 5th place in Volleyball World Cup in Japan
*1990: 6th place. World Championship in China
*1991: Bronze medal in Pan American Games in Havana
*1991: Silver Medal. South American Championship in Sao Paolo
*1991: 5th place in Volleyball World Cup in Japan (designated "Best blocker")
*1993: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Cuzco

Women's U20 Team

*1982: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Santa Fe
*1984: Silver Medal. South American Championship in Iquitos
*1985: 8th place in Women's U20 World Championship in Italy
*1986: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Sao Paulo
*1987: 6th place in Women's U20 World Championship in South Korea

Girl's Youth Team

*1982: Gold Medal. South American Championship in Asuncion.
*1984: Silver Medal. South American Championship in Santiago.