World Olympic Qualification 2000
(Article and photos courtesy of World Volleyball Online Magazine)

There was a Seventeen years old outside hitter on the stage of Final Olympic Qualification in 1996 who was spiking dynamically even though she still needed to be polished. Indeed she was a potential attacker but didn't look like a full of fight yet. That was Francesca Piccinini four years ago.

First of all, I was still very young at that time. And we, as players and team didn't have wide experience in International competition. Comparing to four years ago, we improved a lot more. Our team gained the skills to compete with the teams of world top class.

Italy won 5th place at World Championship in 1998 which was their best result ever, and became a subject of attention. They gathered more experiences and reached in top four at last at BCV and World Grand Prix in 1999. Most rising team Italy was naturally expected to be the dark horse at World Cup 1999. But it wasn't. Italy couldn't even play their own volleyball.

Piccinini seemed unsatisfied with the result and substance of games. Her facial expression was almost always telling that she was groping after the solution but couldn't find it. She often hung her head and silently lost in thoughts after the game.

It's very difficult to explain why we couldn't do well at World Cup 99. I think one of the reasons was that our team wasn't prepared enough for that.

Team Italy at this time was totally different from last November. Piccinini was much stronger, much firmer, and she never showed timid play throughout this competition. Every movement was her will to win.

This was our last chance for Sydney Olympic Games, and it changed us like this.

Piccinini started volleyball at age seven in her hometown Massa Carrara, and she became professional player at 14 years old.

Until 15 days ago, my big dream was participating the Olympic Games. I would like to prepare the best for the Olympics. Months count and days count for that from now on.

To qualify the Olympic Games, Italy team had had detailed training and they won 1st place at World Final Qualification 2000. Their volleyball was more advanced than it's ever been. This achievement is a result of four years systematic effort by whole crew.

This would be surely the most unforgettable tournament for me!

Being at age of 21, we are sure she will have many other unforgettable tournaments in her future.

View her stats in the World Olympic Qualification 2000