Gamova and Tillie among Class of 2026 Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees

Two Europeans – Ekaterina Gamova and Laurent Tillie – were among the legends inducted into the Class of 2026 by the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) at a ceremony organised this past weekend at the birthplace of the game, Holyoke, Massachusetts. CEV President Roko Sikirić was among the high-profile attendees of a ceremony that included the induction also of former FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F°. 

Ekaterina Gamova is widely regarded as one of the most dominant scorers in women’s Volleyball history. She became an international icon through her combination of size, power, skill and consistency at the highest levels of the sport. Gamova represented Russia in four Olympic Games and helped lead her national team to two Olympic Silver medals during one of the most competitive eras in international Volleyball. She guided Russia to two FIVB World Championship titles (2006, 2010) and two European Championship crowns (1999, 2001), serving as the centrepiece of Russian women’s Volleyball for more than a decade. Throughout her career, she earned multiple international individual honours as Best Scorer and Best Blocker, consistently establishing herself among the world’s premier offensive players. She also achieved tremendous success at the professional club level, including titles in the CEV Champions League (with Dinamo KAZAN in 2014) and FIVB Club World Championships. Her global impact, sustained excellence and unforgettable performances helped define an era of women’s Volleyball and inspired future generations of athletes around the world.

Laurent Tillie helped transform France into one of the world’s elite Volleyball nations as head coach of the French Men’s National Team, culminating in the country’s first-ever Olympic Gold medal at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Tillie led France through one of the most successful periods in history, including two FIVB World League titles, a CEV European Championship title in 2015 and multiple Volleyball Nations League podium finishes. Tillie earned recognition as CEV Coach of the Year in 2021 for his leadership, innovation and role in elevating the French national programme to unprecedented international success. Before becoming a championship coach, Tillie also enjoyed an outstanding playing career with the French National Team from 1982 to 1995, appearing in 407 international matches and serving as team captain. Tillie represented France at two Olympic Games as a player and helped the national team earn medals at the European Championship level during the 1980s. His rare combination of elite success as both a player and coach has made him one of the most respected and influential figures in both French and European Volleyball history.

For further information, visit www.volleyhall.org