Volleyball, Olympics: Poland – USA. Wilfredo Leon revealed his reaction to Grbić’s decision

Wilfredo Leon has long maintained that his goal in Paris is Olympic gold. Although he suffered a minor injury before the tournament and coach Nikola Grbić spared him in the last sparring matches before flying to France, the Cuban-born volleyball player has been a very important part of the Polish team from the very beginning at the games.

Leon is the most consistent player among Polish wingers. In the semi-final against the USA, he was once again the best scoring player of the “White and Reds” – according to statistics provided after the match by the Polish Volleyball Federation, he scored as many as 25 points.

Leon emphasizes, however, that he does not feel like a hero of the fight for the Olympic finals.

“No. The hero is the whole team. And great respect for them. Gentlemen, you are not with us every day,” he told reporters. “These are not easy training sessions, it is not easy with the coach. It is very difficult. This year was… oh my! It is still there, because it is not over yet. But that is how you build. If everything was easy, we would not have reached this point.”

Grbić’s decision helped Wilfredo Leon. “I lost my head a little bit”

At some point, even he was benched. In the third set, when the team was not doing well at all, he was replaced by Kamil Semeniuk. Poland lost this set 14:25. Leon, however, assured after the match that he fully understood Grbić’s decision.

It’s understandable. When things don’t go well, you have a weak moment, three actions unfinished… I lost my head a bit. It’s good that I sat on the bench, calmed down and then came back

~ says the Polish representative.

And after returning to the pitch, Leon continued to be one of the driving forces of the Polish team. He should also be one of the key players in the final against France. The Polish volleyball players will play for gold on Saturday, and the match will be an opportunity for them to get double revenge – for the quarterfinal of the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the recent semifinal of the Nations League in Łódź. Leon played in both of these lost matches. In Tokyo, he scored 29 points, in Łódź only three.

Wilfredo Leon spoke about the end of the match with the USA. “I hit hard and high”/Polsat Sport/Polsat Sport

Wilfredo Leon during the Poland – USA match/ PAP/Adam Warżawa/PAP

Wilfredo Leon attacks during the Poland-USA match/PAP/Adam Warżawa/PAP

Wilfredo Leon/Marco Zac/ Only Photo/ Only Photo via AFP/AFP