Paul Laciga

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Paul Laciga Volleyball (beach)
Paul Laciga.jpg
FIVB in Gstaad 2007
portrait
birthday November 24, 1970
place of birth Bern , Switzerland
size 1.93 m
partner 1992–2004, 2007 Martin Laciga
2005–2006 Sascha Heyer
World ranking Position 1 (July 2, 2001)
successes
1997 - Third place in the European Championship
1998 - European Champion
1999 - European Champion , Vice World Champion
2000 - European Champion , 5th Olympic Games
2001 - Vice European Champion
2002 - Vice European Champion
2004 - 5th Olympic Games
2005 - Vice World Champion
(As of January 30, 2013)

Paul Laciga (born November 24, 1970 in Bern ) is one of the most successful Swiss beach volleyball players. He took fifth place twice at the Olympic Games , in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 , was twice vice world champion in Marseille in 1999 and Berlin in 2005 and three times Swiss champion .

Paul Laciga played with his brother Martin for several years . After the 2004 Summer Olympics , the Laciga brothers separated and Paul Laciga then played with Sascha Heyer . In 2007 he played the international tournaments with Philip Gabathuler and the national tournaments with Jefferson Bellaguarda (BRA). A press release announced on Monday 4th June 2007 that Paul Laciga will play again (provisionally) with his brother Martin. They played together until the Beach Volleyball World Cup in 2007 .

This was also Paul Laciga's last international tournament.

successes

The brothers Martin and Paul Laciga have been there since the mid-90s, when beach volleyball developed from recreational to professional sport, and have made a decisive contribution to shaping the still young professional beach volleyball in Switzerland: The Laciga brothers were from 1995 until 2004 the most successful Swiss beach volleyball team. Among other things, they were runner-up in 1999 and took part in three other World Cup tournaments until 2003. After finishing third at the 1997 European Championships, they won the European Championship three times in a row from 1998 to 2000; In 2001 and 2002 they became vice European champions. They finished fifth at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and 2004 in Athens. After Athens the brothers separated and in 2005 Paul Laciga played with Sascha Heyer.

Beginnings

For the first time in a beach volleyball tournament, Paul Laciga appeared in 1992 with his brother Martin as a team at the Lido in Lucerne. With his brother, who was five years his junior, he finished 17th at the first ever Swiss Beach Volleyball Championship and was enthusiastic about the sport. Two years later, the Laciga brothers had their first national victory and they were considering becoming professional players for the first time. The following year they played on their first World Tour.

Beginning of professional career

According to Paul Laciga, the best players at the time clearly came from Brazil and the USA. They were one of the few top European teams. Inspired by the best, the brothers trained hard and success came very soon. In 1998 they won their first European championship and even made it to the top of the World Tour in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The successes of Martin and Paul Laciga triggered a veritable beach volley boom. The former fringe sport received more and more attention. Among other things, it is thanks to them that practically every European country can now provide its own teams.

Highlights

Paul Laciga looks at his career with satisfaction: “The five tournament victories on the World Tour and the European Championship triple from 1998 to 2000, as well as vice world champion with two different partners, are among my absolute career highlights! To be at the top of the world rankings as a Swiss - in front of all Brazilians and Americans - was sporty but just as valuable, almost sensational. And of course the home tournament in Gstaad is a highlight every year! "

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Laciga, Paul
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss beach volleyball player
DATE OF BIRTH November 24, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH Bern