Born: 1968
Biography:
Gabriela Gaby Lourdes Pérez del Solar Cuculiza, born on July 10, 1968, is a retired Peruvian volleyball player and a politician. She is also a former Congresswoman of the Christian People’s Party.
Pérez del Solar’s journey in volleyball began at the age of 14. Standing at 1.94 meters, her height became a significant advantage, making her an internationally respected blocker. She participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics and placed fourth.
In 1985, at just 17 years old, Pérez del Solar displayed her exceptional skills at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup in Japan. She was selected as the best blocker of the tournament and achieved a fifth-place ranking. The same year, she won the gold medal in the South American Championship.
Her success continued in 1986 when Pérez del Solar won the bronze medal in the FIVB World Championship. The following year, she claimed the silver medal in the Pan American Games. Additionally, she triumphed in the 1987 South American Championship and the 1987 Japan Cup, where she was awarded the title of Best Spiker.
Pérez del Solar’s achievements reached new heights in the 1988 Summer Olympics, where she won the silver medal with her team and received the honor of being named the best receiver. She also secured the bronze medal in the 1988 Top Four competition. In 1989, she triumphed once again in the South American Championship and ranked fifth in the FIVB World Cup.
Continuing her impressive career, Pérez del Solar placed sixth in the 1990 FIVB World Championship. She went on to win the bronze medal in the 1991 Pan American Games, the silver medal in the 1991 South American Championship, and achieved fifth place in the 1991 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup. Her final triumph came in 1993 when she retired from the Peruvian national team after winning the South American Championship in Cuzco.
After her retirement from competitive volleyball in Peru, Pérez del Solar continued her athletic pursuits in Italy. She played for various clubs in the country and achieved great success. Although she was invited to join the Italian national team, she declined the offer.
In 2005, Pérez del Solar made a significant career shift and entered the world of politics. Lourdes Flores Nano, then a presidential candidate, invited her to run for Congress, and she accepted the invitation. In the general elections of 2006, Pérez del Solar secured the most votes in her district and became the fifth-highest vote earner nationwide. She joined the National Unity Party and was sworn in as a member in a ceremony conducted by Xavier Barrón and Lourdes Flores.
In the 2011 elections, Pérez del Solar was re-elected for another five-year term, representing the Alliance for the Great Change, to which the Christian People’s Party now belongs. Her political career proved to be as successful as her sporting endeavors.
Awards:
– 1985 World Cup: Best Blocker
– 1986 World Championship: Best Blocker
– 1988 Olympics: Best Receiver
– 1991 World Cup: Best Blocker
– 1993 South American Championship: Best Blocker
Throughout her career, Gabriela Pérez del Solar demonstrated exceptional skill and passion for volleyball, making her a remarkable athlete. Her transition into politics allows her to continue making a positive impact on society and representing the Christian People’s Party. Pérez del Solar’s contributions to women’s sports and her role in politics have left an enduring legacy, inspiring future generations of Peruvian women to strive for excellence in all their endeavors.