"It is with great sadness that we have learned the news of the death of Olympic champion Walewska," read a statement from the CBV, which did not give details of the circumstances of the death. According to a police report cited by the Brazilian press, the former volleyball player fell from the 17th floor of a building in Sao Paulo.
Walewska, who played as a centre, retired last year. She played three Olympiads with the Brazilian team, winning the bronze medal in Sydney in 2000, before failing to reach the foot of the podium (4th) in Athens in 2004, and winning the supreme title in Beijing in 2008.
Lamento profundamente o falecimento da ex-jogadora e campeã olímpica Walewska Oliveira, um dos grandes nomes do Vôlei Feminino do nosso país. Ela brilhou nas quadras e trouxe muito orgulho para o Brasil. O seu legado no esporte será eterno e seguirá inspirando todos do voleibol.... pic.twitter.com/08Q8swIvhp
— Romário (@RomarioOnze) September 22, 2023
"I lost a daughter. It's very hard," said Brazil women's team coach José Roberto Guimaraes, quoted by the Globo Esporte website. "She was exceptional. Every coach would like to have a player like her," added the man who coached her during the 2008 Olympic title.
