About
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan at a YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, as a less physically demanding alternative to basketball. It spread globally through the YMCA network and became an Olympic sport in 1964. Today, volleyball (indoor and beach) has approximately 800 million players worldwide — one of the most practiced sports on Earth.
The FIVB Volleyball World Championship and Olympics are the sport's pinnacles. Brazil, Russia/USSR, USA, and China have dominated. Beach volleyball, introduced to the Olympics in 1996, combines athleticism with spectacular settings — Copacabana Beach in Rio was the 2016 Olympic venue. The service speed record exceeds 135 km/h.
# Top 10 Volleyball facts
- 1Volleyball was invented in 1895 as a less strenuous alternative to basketball — for older YMCA members
- 2Brazil has won 3 Olympic gold medals in men's volleyball and 2 in women's — a remarkable record
- 3A volleyball serve has been recorded at 135 km/h — comparable to a baseball pitch
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Volleyball was invented in 1895 as a less strenuous alternative to basketball — for older YMCA members
- ◆Brazil has won 3 Olympic gold medals in men's volleyball and 2 in women's — a remarkable record
- ◆A volleyball serve has been recorded at 135 km/h — comparable to a baseball pitch
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