Valentina Mishak

Valentina Mishak was a Ukrainian volleyball player who represented the Soviet Union. Mishak was part of the women’s team that won the silver medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Mishak was born in Tiraspol in 1942. At school Mishak competed in sports with her talent for volleyball being spotted when a coach visited her school. Mishak played for a local volleyball team and was trained by coaches from Odesa.

When Mishak was 18, she was invited to a training camp with the USSR national team ahead of the Volleyball World Cup. Despite not attending the tournament, Mishak gained some valuable experience from playing in the practice matches.

Prior to the Tokyo Olympics, Mishak competed at the 1962 World Volleyball Championships where the team won silver. The following year, Mishak won gold as part of the Soviet team at the 1963 European Volleyball Championships.

Mishak played for her local side Burevestnik Odessa for 15 years, spending 14 years as their captain. After her playing career Mishak worked as a physical education teacher.