Mexico (MEX) vs. Japan (JPN) women - Pool A #6497156

La squadra ospitante del Campionato del Mondo FIVB U21 di pallavolo femminile 2023 ha un nome che spicca a soli 17 anni, "Topete", che ha catturato gli occhi e il sostegno delle folle in ogni sua esibizione.

Per Topete si tratta della terza partecipazione ai Campionati del Mondo FIVB: la prima è stata nel 2019 in Egitto e la seconda nel 2021 a Durango, in Messico, entrambe nella categoria U18.

The tournament is streamed live on the Volleyball World YouTube channel.

Mexico (MEX) vs. Japan (JPN) women - Pool A #6504790

Mexican Aimé Topete in action against Japan

In her first FIVB World Championship in 2019 in Egypt, Topete was only twelve years old.

“The experience was wonderful, I was part of the Mexican team that qualified to Worlds winning the bronze medal at the U18 Women’s Pan American Cup, held here in Mexico, in Durango”.

Speaking of Durango, the host of the 2021 FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship, Topete was also Mexico’s team captain in her second World Championship.

“Being named captain was a great honor, I took that responsibility seriously, and I continue to do so now here in Leon”.

At the age of fifteen, Topete was called to join the Mexican senior national team by Brazilian head coach Rafael Petry.

“My first event at the senior level was last year in August, I was going to turn sixteen in October; it was at the Pan American Cup, also here in Mexico, in Sonora. Immediately after that, I traveled with the team to the Dominican Republic for the NORCECA Final Six Championship”.

Her experience in the senior national team has been a wonderful one, she explains.

“I've had the opportunity to be surrounded by teammates who have played at a professional level internationally, they have taught me a lot, and this has allowed me to have more confidence in my own age-group team. I’m able to provide more security to my team, motivating them on and off the court”.

When asked about her volleyball dream, she says with confidence, “My dream is to play professionally in the Italian League, I love Italian volleyball, and I'm working hard in preparing well to achieve it in the near future”.

Currently, Aimé Topete is studying in her last year of high school and will graduate next year. Her plans include studying at a university in the United States, “I have had conversations with several universities to study either Physiotherapy or Early Childhood Education, with a volleyball scholarship, of course”.

Regarding her family life, Topete mentions that she hasn’t been home since April.

“My sisters and mom are here in León, two of my sisters play volleyball too, and one plays basketball, we're a family of athletes” she added. “Having them here, supporting me and Mexico is a blessing, especially because of my commitments with the senior national team, which will still keep me away from home until November”.

**2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: Match Schedule and Results**

Mexico (MEX) vs. Japan (JPN) women - Pool A #6504791

Aimé Tomete ready for the spike against Japan

Recentemente, Topete è stata in Francia con la nazionale messicana, partecipando alla FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup per guadagnarsi un posto nella Volleyball Nations League (VNL). Ha partecipato anche alla recente Pan American Cup a Porto Rico e presto avrà altri due impegni importanti: il campionato continentale NORCECA in Canada a fine agosto e il torneo di qualificazione olimpica mondiale per le Olimpiadi di Parigi in Cina a settembre.

Concluderà l'anno ai Giochi Panamericani di Santiago del Cile, a fine ottobre e inizio novembre.

Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Women's U21 World Championship
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