 |
|
|
|
 There
is no doubt that 34-year-old Prikeba (Keba) Phipps
would love nothing better than to walk away from the 2003 World
Cup with a gold
medal.
The Colorado resident has been a
central figure in the USA team in recent years
and her huge hitting and instinctive ability to find
the gap in the opposite court make her invaluable to
her natonal team
Indeed Phipps packs a whallop that indicates she
retains the same energy that made her a member of the
USA Olympic team that competed at Seoul, Korea back in
1988 when just 19-years-old. Fifteen years later and a
long pause notwithstanding, she is still a pivotal
member of the lineup, in itself an amazing sporting
feat.
Phipps rejoined the World Grand Prix team in 2002,
when they finished in sixth place and was part of the
2002 silver medal winning team at the World
Championship in Germany several months later.
Her performances earlier this year at the 2003 World
Grand Prix, where USA picked up the bronze medal, gave
further evidence of how much she is a key player in
the USA team.
Last year's World Championship was devastating for
Phipps having led the team with her thunderous spikes
through to the final only
to be sidelined after receiving a
knock in the eye in training. There is no doubt Phipps, who is fluent in
Italian after many years playing
professionally in Italy, would like to follow
up USA's World Grand Prix medal and make it to the
podium in the 2003 World Cup.
At 190cm Phipps is one of the tallest on court and her
trademark flying Rasta locks make
her a fearsome opponent but it
is a characteristic that she
enjoys exploiting, bearing down on her opponents when
she is in full flight. But clearly Phipps has a
soft side, and like the leader that she is, she is
quick to comfort, encourage and inspire her teammates
whenever the occasion presents itself.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
