Belize Claims First-Ever Men’s Volleyball Gold

Belize is celebrating a landmark moment in national sports history after the senior men’s volleyball team captured the country’s first-ever Central American senior championship, defeating regional powerhouse Costa Rica in four sets to win gold at the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four.

For Belize Volleyball Association President Allan Sharpe, a former national team player himself, the victory closes out years of setbacks and near-misses. He said he couldn’t even bring himself to watch the final with anyone else. “I gotta tell you, Shane, I watched the game locked up in a room with nobody around me, lots of anxiety, lots of emotions. Years and years of emotions coming. I mean tears – me myself in my room jumping up and down screaming whilst they ran around in the court. It brings out a lot of emotions to think about the gold medal.”

Team Belize returns home through the northern border around four this evening. Fans are asked to meet them at the Belize Elementary School, where the volleyball community will welcome the new champions home around 6:30 tonight.