Twenty years at the highest level is rare in any sport. Continuing to perform season after season is even rarer, and Robertlandy Simon has done both.
The Cuban middle blocker has built a career that spans generations of teammates, opponents and competitions. While his physical gifts have made him one of volleyball’s most dominant players, Simon believes his longevity has been sustained by something far less visible – his genuine love for the game that still motivates him every time he steps onto the court.
“Yes, I have competed at the highest level for 20 years, and I think the most important thing I have is my determination, the commitment I bring to every single day,” Simon said. “The dedication to train every day, to try to become a better player every day, and to overcome every obstacle that comes into my life.
“I think the main reason is my family. Seeing them and remembering where I come from is what drives me. It’s what gives me the motivation to keep improving, to keep working, and to make sure my level never drops.”
That commitment has carried Simon through every stage of his career, from captaining Cuba to a silver medal at the 2010 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship to winning titles in some of the world’s strongest leagues.
Success has come alongside significant personal sacrifices, and Simon says two moments, in particular, changed the course of his life.
“The most difficult period of my career? I think there were two,” Simon said. “The first was when I left the national team in 2010. I had to leave my family behind, and my daughter was only three months old at the time.
“The second was when my mother passed away in 2018. I think those were the two moments that truly marked my life.
“To me, resilience is about wanting something more than anything else. I always tried to think about what would happen, or what my mother would want for me. During this time, I believe she would be proud of everything I’ve achieved. But she would also want to be proud of everything I can still accomplish.
“I think about what my mother would say or think very often, and that’s what gives me the motivation to keep moving forward.”
Simon says there is no shortcut to a long career. His advice to younger players is built on the same approach that has carried him through two decades at the highest level.
“I think my advice would be to work hard, work well, be dedicated and be obsessed,” Simon said. “I say that because I believe obsession can be a good thing in this sport. It keeps you thinking about what you want 24 hours a day.
“If you truly want something and believe you can achieve it, then you have to be obsessed with it. You have to work hard, you have to dedicate yourself completely, and you can’t be distracted by anything else.
“You have to focus only on what you want for yourself. And if what you want is to play volleyball, then you have to devote 100 per cent of your mind to what you love.”
Over the course of his career, Simon has won titles and individual honours around the world. His proudest achievement, however, is something else.
“I think what I’m most proud of is the person I’ve become, the person I have built over the years,” Simon said. “From a young age until now, I’ve always tried to remain humble, to be kind-hearted, and to give everything I have in everything I do.
“That’s what makes me the proudest. I’m proud because today I consider myself a good person, someone without malice, someone who always tries to give the best of himself, even when others have hurt me.
“I am who I am today because of that, and because of my mother, who instilled those values in me from the time I was a child: always do good without expecting anything in return or judging who you’re helping.”
This World Volleyball Day on July 7, celebrate the love and passion for volleyball that have made the game a lasting part of your life. Share your story using #WorldVolleyballDay.
