Horrific news arrives from Venezuela, where the captain of the men’s volleyball national team of that country, Wilner Rivas (31), died in a devastating earthquake.
Rescue teams found his body beneath the ruins of a residential building, along with the bodies of his wife Marianjel Perez and their son Teo, ending a multi-day search for the family, who had been missing since June 24.
The Rivases lived in the federal state of La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the powerful earthquakes. Their home completely collapsed, and despite appeals from family, friends, and teammates to intensify the search, the outcome was tragic.
It is with deep sadness and sorrow that the European Volleyball family has learned that Willner Rivas, his wife Mariangel Pérez, and their young son Theo have passed away due to the earthquake that struck Venezuela.
— European Volleyball (@CEVolleyball) July 6, 2026
Our hearts and deepest condolences are with their family, loved… pic.twitter.com/wR8yD6u7jB
The news of the death of one of the best Venezuelan volleyball players was first published by journalist Daniel Bortoletto on the Web Vôlei portal, after which it was confirmed by the Venezuelan Volleyball Federation and the Spanish club Guaguas, the club for which Rivas was supposed to perform starting next season.
Rivas was for years one of the mainstays of the Venezuela national team and its captain, and he had a rich international career behind him. He played for Cisterna Volley in Italy, Narbonne in France, as well as for clubs in Turkey, Argentina, and the Middle East. In the upcoming season, he was supposed to play in the Champions League for the first time.
Following the confirmation of the tragedy, numerous volleyball federations, clubs, and athletes around the world said goodbye to Rivas and his family, sending expressions of condolences to their loved ones.
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Nova.rs; Photo: SportKlub / Printscreen Instagram Willner Rivas / Guliverimage