Abel Sarmientos

From 1981 until 1995 Abel Sarmientos was a mainstay on the Cuban volleyball team, playing at multiple international tournaments and competitions. Sarmientos had success early in his career, winning silver at the 1981 FIVB World Cup, followed by gold at the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games. He won more medals throughout the 1980s with gold at the FIVB World Cup (1989) and silver at the Pan American Games (1983, 1987). In 1990 the Cuban team finished runners-up to Italy at the World Volleyball Championships in Brazil. The following year the team won another silver at the FIVB World Cup before Sarmientos was selected to compete at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Cuba missed out on a medal at the Games after finishing fourth, but went on to win another gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1993, before winning bronze at the 1995 Pan American Games.