Bernard Rajzman

One of Brazil’s most well-known athletes, Bernard Rajzman made his volleyball debut with his country’s Men’s National Team at the age of 17. He was a key player as the squad began a run of success. With his team, Rajzman won seven South American titles in 1973, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983, and 1987. His team also took the bronze medal at the 1982 World Cup, a silver medal at the 1982 World Championships, and a gold at the Pan American Games in 1983. At the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1988, he executed 30 kills against the United States team allowing his own team to sweep the US and advance to a silver medal in the final rematch against the USA.

In addition to international team play, Rajzman played professionally in Italy and Brazil. Rajzman’s Italian club, Panini Modena, captured the Italian Cup in 1978 and the Cup Winner’s Cup in 1979. Back home, he helped lead Atlantica Boa Vista to the Brazilian Super League Championship in 1981 and a second place finish the following year. In 2000 Rajzman was a co-finalist for Best Volleyball Player of the Twentieth Century, awarded by the Federation Inernationale de Volleyball.

Now retired from the volleyball court, Bernard Rajzman, or Volley Bernard as he is known in Brazil, continues to contribute to the sport through politics. In Brazil he has served as National Secretary of Sport, as a member of the Brazilian National Olympic Committee, as President of the National Sports Commission and President of the Commission for Rio 2000 Olympic Games. Most recently, Rajzman served as President of the Organizing Committee for the World Wheelchair and Amputee Games, part of the Tribute to Peace held in Rio de Janeiro in September 2005. Today Rajzman is Sub-Secretary of State for the 2007 Pan-American games.