The outside hitter ends career with Olympic and World Championship medals
Yukiko Ebata announced her retirement from playing professional volleyball on her club team PFU BlueCats’ website on Thursday, March 25.
The former Japan national team player and London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist brought down the curtain on her more-than-a-decade-long career at age 31.
She first joined the national team at the 2010 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, making her the youngest member of the team. That same year, her great scoring performances contributed to Japan’s campaign when they won their first medal in 32 years at the World Championships.
Ebata also won gold along with a Best Spiker award in tow at the 2011 Montreux Volley Masters, then became one of the key players in Japan’s fourth-place finish at the 2011 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup.
She scored a career-high 33 points in their five-set quarterfinal win over Asian rivals China at London 2012, eventually propelling the team to a first bronze medal finish since winning their last Olympic medal (bronze) in 1984.
Yukiko Ebata spikes against Chinese blockers at the London 2012 Olympic Games
She also earned back-to-back continental championship titles in 2011 and 2013. From 2013 to 2015, she won bronze at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup, silver medals at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup and Montreux Volley Masters.
She began her professional career with Hitachi Rivale in 2008 and played there until 2014. She played one season with French club RC Cannes and spent the remainder of her club career with the PFU BlueCats.
“Right after I joined the team I got injured, and in my last season I got injured again and could not play. So I felt like I caused a lot of trouble, but the time I spent with my friends is a precious treasure,” said Ebata looking back on her six-year stint with the BlueCats.
“I haven’t been able to play as well as I would have liked in the past few years, but my love for volleyball hasn’t changed at all. I would like to express my gratitude to the friends I spent so much time with, the staff who guided me, the trainers who rehabilitated me throughout my time with PFU, and the people who supported me behind the scenes, and of course the fans who supported me no matter what.”
Her club will hold an official retirement press conference on March 29.
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