“We miss what we love the most, playing Volleyball” - Olga Strantzali
Athens, Greece, April 5, 2020. While the whole world sits at home during the outbreak of COVID-19, professional athletes are trying to keep mentally and physically fit. Greece’s outside hitter Olga Strantzali has returned from Poland to her hometown of Thessaloniki. She is staying at home and trying to find ways to keep her mind occupied while waiting to return to do what she loves the most, playing Volleyball.
“These times are hard for everyone and it is a situation that no one has ever dealt with. The life of us, athletes unfolds on the court and we cannot do what we love. Everyone is trying to find ways to stay in good shape, following the instructions from their clubs,” said Strantzali on the Hellenic Volleyball Federation’s live stream on Instagram, before she flashed back to the summer of 2019 with the national team competing at EuroVolley for the first time since 2001.
“It was an amazing summer and I am sure that nobody on the team will forget it. Ankara was good for us. I miss my teammates and coaching staff and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. The CEV have announced the postponement of the Silver European League and I hope that by the time the EuroVolley qualifiers will be starting in mid-August the situation around the world will be much better than it is now. Our goal now as a team is to always be in the final phase of major tournaments and we are determined to achieve it,” Olga added before concluding with a comment regarding her last season in Poland with Legionovia Legionowo.
“Legionovia finished the regular season in 4th place, the best result in their history. We managed to beat great teams along the way and it is a shame that we did not start the playoffs. In our team, there was a sense of dissatisfaction because we had aspirations for a medal. But we have had to accept the situation and there is nothing else we can do about it.”
“These times are hard for everyone and it is a situation that no one has ever dealt with. The life of us, athletes unfolds on the court and we cannot do what we love. Everyone is trying to find ways to stay in good shape, following the instructions from their clubs,” said Strantzali on the Hellenic Volleyball Federation’s live stream on Instagram, before she flashed back to the summer of 2019 with the national team competing at EuroVolley for the first time since 2001.
“It was an amazing summer and I am sure that nobody on the team will forget it. Ankara was good for us. I miss my teammates and coaching staff and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. The CEV have announced the postponement of the Silver European League and I hope that by the time the EuroVolley qualifiers will be starting in mid-August the situation around the world will be much better than it is now. Our goal now as a team is to always be in the final phase of major tournaments and we are determined to achieve it,” Olga added before concluding with a comment regarding her last season in Poland with Legionovia Legionowo.
“Legionovia finished the regular season in 4th place, the best result in their history. We managed to beat great teams along the way and it is a shame that we did not start the playoffs. In our team, there was a sense of dissatisfaction because we had aspirations for a medal. But we have had to accept the situation and there is nothing else we can do about it.”
