Volleyball 'dream team' say cultural differences have led to success on the court

The first indigenous Australian to compete in Olympic Beach Volleyball, Taliqua Clancy, has teamed up with Peruvian-born Mariafe Artacho del Solar to strike gold in their last three international outings.

What do you get when you put an Indigenous Olympian alongside a Peruvian-born Olympian on the beach volleyball court? The simple answer is gold.

Taliqua Clancy's great start alongside Mariafe Artacho del Solar has come because of their vastly different cultural backgrounds.

"There's only two of you on the court. And I think those differences can be the success that your have," she told SBS World News.
Taliqua Clancy shows off two of her recent gold medals.
Taliqua Clancy shows off two of her recent gold medals. Source: SBS
Clancy, from Kingaroy in Queensland, said the chance to appear at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast is something she can't wait for.

The proud Indigenous-Australian said she was happy to give back to her community. 

"To have that blood in me,  I'm extremely proud," Clancy said.

Her hugely successful start alongside del Solar has made them targets for their opposition. 

"You want to be the hunted, I don't want to be the hunter," Clancy said. 

The only thing Clancy said she wants now is to be hunting more gold medals for Australia, hoping her incredible start alongside del Solar continues.


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By John Baldock
Source: SBS


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