Quick Facts
Biography
Yael Castiglione (born 27 September 1985) is an Argentine volleyball player currently playing for MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza of the Polish Orlen Liga. Castiglione has represented the Argentina national team in various tournaments since 2004, including the Pan-American Volleyball Cup (in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix (in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup (in 2011, 2015), the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship in Italy, the 2015 Pan American Games in Canada, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. During the Olympics, she married a retired Brazilian volleyball player in a Buddhist ceremony.
At club level she played for Millenium, Bellinzona, Lleida, Boca Juniors, Igtisadchi Baku, Dinamo București, Hainaut, Post Schwechat, Maranhão Vôlei, Rio do Sul and Bielsko-Biała before moving to Dąbrowa Górnicza in May 2016.
Personal life
Yael Castiglione became an atheist after her parents died during his childhood. However, she rediscovered her faith during the Pan American Games where she turned to Buddhism and meditation as taught by the Chaplain for the Rio Olympics and Paralympic Games as well as the Pan-American Games and Parapan American Games Rev. Zenji Nio. Yael developed a very strong relationship with Nio and therefore made arrangements to have him conduct the first marriage ceremony in an Olympic village between Yael and Marcus Eloe, a professional Brazilian athlete. The ceremony was conducted in the Buddhist tradition before an altar full of ancient Buddhist artifacts and Rev Nio who is an expert in Samurai Buddhist practices gifted the bride and groom Buddhist Bibles which included the wisdom of famous Samurai warriors. Rev. Zenji Nio said that his role was to help people and spread love that can overcome all differences and the legacy of the Rio Games would be that even arch rivals Brazil and Argentina could come together in a special way. Nio also had a meeting with Cardinal Don Orani Tempesta. Yael Castiglione said she would live on in Brazil near São Paulo.
Clubs
CV Millenium Cermel (2005–2006)
Volley Bellinzona (2006–2007)- Cecell Lleida (2007–2009)
Boca Juniors (2009–2010)
İqtisadçı Bakı (2010–2011)
CS Dinamo București (2011–2012)
Hainaut Volley (2012–2012)
SVS Post Schwechat (2012–2013)
Maranhão Vôlei (2013–2014)- Rio do Sul Vôlei (2014–2015)
BKS Stal Bielsko-Biała (2015–2016)- MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza (2016–present)
