Posted on 06/08/2022 15:00 / Updated on 06/08/2022 15:16
Canada’s Dave Preston takes up the challenge of playing Australia project for Brisbane-2032 – (Credit: Disclosure/McMaster Marauders)
Olympic powers achieve success in long-term planning. Australia is no different. Ranked sixth in the medal tally at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the country has a project to expand the podium’s repertoire and include developments into what is essentially a team sport: volleyball. While Brazil debuts in the men’s League of Nations tonight at 21 at the Nilsson Nelson Gymnasium, focused on the tournament’s two-time championship, Australia looks 10 years ahead. The goal is to be in the top 3 at home at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The players of the Australian national team, affectionately called “Voleros”, have played in volleyball tournaments three times in the history of the Olympic Games. The first of them was at home in the Sydney-2000 edition. The best result was eighth place. The team last participated in the competition in London-2012. He didn’t come to Rio-2016 and he didn’t go to Tokyo-2020.
The project goes through Science in the direction of Brisbane-2032. Recently hired to run the men’s volleyball project, Koch is an academic. Canada’s Dave Preston has years of service with the Ontario University of Athletics (OUA). With a life dedicated to volleyball, Dave Preston credits the services he provides to McMaster Marauders at the elite University of Modality in Canada. He held six titles from 2013 to 2018, lost in 2019, but returned to the top tier of the podium in 2022.
Dave Preston’s experience goes beyond college sports. The captain of Australia was an assistant to Canada’s junior men’s volleyball team. He assisted in the country’s campaign at the 2014 Under-21 World Cup in Turkey. He was instrumental in helping the main squad win the bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg–1999. Eliminated by Brazil in the semi-finals, they beat Argentina 3 sets to 1 in a third-place decision. This achievement inducted that Canadian team into the country’s Hall of Fame.
Dave Preston’s greatest quality is his ability to develop his talent. His resume has a huge display of the promises he makes. Most awarded in the competitions played by him. One of his concepts is to work with a volleyball team as if it were a family. His wife, Gloria, and daughters Grace and Gabrielle are the biggest inspirations for the “Volley House” style.
Dave Preston takes over Australia because he has a dream. “Olympic gold will be the ultimate goal. There are a few steps on the way,” acknowledged the Canadian commander of Australia. One of the stones in the path of this 10-year project is Brazil, by Rennon Dal Zoto, soon, in Ginacio Nilsson Nelson.
One of the symbols of Dave Preston’s plan for Brisbane-2032 is the young pointer Lorenzo Pope. Born on June 12, 2001, here in Brasilia, he will be 21 years old. In 10 years, he has everything to be one of the pillars, one of the stalwarts of the class in the Olympics played at home. As hosts, Australia qualified for both the men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments. “There are many players in Brazil who were my idols when I saw them”, admits the freshman.
Australia mix future players, such as Lorenzo Pope, with legends such as Trent O’Dea and Beau Graham, who are options with more than 10 years of service in the national team. For coach Dave Preston’s Australia, the future has already begun here in Brasilia and is called Brisbane-2032.
