Kristina May

Kristina Valjas May (born 2 June 1987 in Toronto, Canada[1]) is a Canadian beach volleyball player. She qualified to compete (along with partner Jamie Broder) at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[2] They advanced to the round of 16 until they were eliminated, finishing in a tie for ninth place.[3]

Kristina Valjas
Personal information
Full nameKristina Valjas May
NationalityCanada
Born (1987-06-02) 2 June 1987
HometownToronto
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
College(s)University of Toronto
Beach volleyball information
Current teammate
Years Teammate
2011-16
2017		 Jamie Broder
Taylor Pischke
National team
Canada

Life and career

Valjas was born on 2 June 1987 to parents who both played varsity volleyball in university. Growing up, she competed in mountain biking and cross-country skiing. She is the older sister of skier Len Väljas.[3] Like her parents, she played university volleyball for the Toronto Varsity Blues, before transitioning to beach volleyball, where in 2010 she became part of the national team.[4] Valjas formed a double with Jamie Broder in 2011, and went on to win NORCECA continental titles in 2013 and 2015.[3]

In April 2015, Valjas and Broder won an FIVB World Tour medal, becoming the first Canadian female athletes to do so.[3]

In October 2016, she married John May, and adopted his surname.[5] In 2017, May started a new team with Taylor Pischke.[6]

References
  1. FIVB Profile
  2. Hossain, Asif (11 June 2016). "Three beach volleyball teams earn Olympic berths". www.olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. "Kristina Valjas". Official Canadian Olympic Team Website. 2016-07-19. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  4. Toronto to Rio: Kristina Valjas hits the beach this week with hopes of an Olympic medal
  5. Bio
  6. CANADA’S TAYLOR PISCHKE OPTIMISTIC AFTER 0-3 START WITH NEW PARTNER


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