Raúl Papaleo

Born in the Ocean Park section of San Juan, to a middle-class family, Papaleo is one of three siblings. Papaleo received his primary and secondary education in Colegio San Jose de Caguas and also played others sports like baseball, basketball and motorcross. His father is a coach for an elementary school, where he started playing the sport. Papaleo, attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne after graduating from high school and studied Human Resources. In the meantime, he continued playing volleyball.[1]

In 1990, Papaleo qualified to play for the Puerto Rican National Team which is governed by the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee. He played Indoor Volleyball and in 1991 he made a Final Four appearance. In 1992, Papaleo qualified for the NCAA All-American second team. That year, he also made the Volleyball Monthly All-American third team and helped his team to another Final Four appearance. In 1995, Papaleo won the AVP qualifier in Denver, Colorado in Beach Volleyball. That same year, he played in the Pre-Olympic qualifier for Puerto Rico. In 1996 he was named AVP Rookie of the Year.[1]

In the Pan-American Games held in the Dominican Republic in August 2003, Raúl Papaleo and his teammate, Ramon Hernandez, won the bronze Medal by defeating the U.S. team, represented by David Fischer and Brad Torsone, by 21-17 and 21–14 in 43 minutes. Raúl Papaleo and Ramon Hernandez represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics which were celebrated in Athens, Greece. This was the first time in the history of Puerto Rico that the island was represented with a Beach Volleyball Team in an Olympic competition.[2]

Papaleo's total domestic earnings from 1994–2003 were $74,560 and his total international earnings from 1996–2004 have been $34,626 for a grand total of $109,185 monies earned.

When not playing internationally, Papaleo plays locally for the "Caribes de San Sebastián" in the "Liga Superior de Voleibol Masculino" (Superior League of Masculine Volleyball) of Puerto Rico. In 1999, he was awarded the "Gentleman of the Year Award" from the league. The basketball court, where volleyball is also played, of the José Gautier Benítez high school of Caguas is named after Raúl Papaleo.[3]

He played the 2006 NORCECA Men's Beach Volleyball Continental Championship along with Joseph Gil. They finished in second place, after Gil suffered several injuries playing the semifinals.[4]

At the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit 2008, he completed an all Puerto Rican podium at the Carolina Beach Volleyball Tournament. He played with Ramón Hernández[5] On July 11, 2008, Papaleo was contracted by the Guaynabo Mets of Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino (The Superior Masculine Volleyball League).[6]

• List of Puerto Ricans
• Sports in Puerto Rico

• U.S. Volleyball News
• Profile at the Beach Volleyball Database
• Raul Papaleo at the International Olympic Committee