The sports world just saw a major shake-up. Sporting, the current national champions, announced a huge new player this Sunday. They signed Sergey Grankin, a 40-year-old Russian setter. This isn’t just any player; Grankin is an Olympic gold medalist. He famously won gold at the London 2012 Games, a detail that newspaper Record first hinted at back on July 28.
Grankin himself seemed genuinely impressed with his new club. He shared his thoughts on Sporting’s website, saying, “I knew it was a big organization, but I couldn’t imagine how big. When I got here, I was shocked. I thought, ‘Wow, this is really good.'” His excitement sets a positive tone for this high-profile move.
João Fidalgo, who coordinates volleyball for Sporting, spoke highly of the new addition. He called Grankin “one of the most important names to ever join Portuguese volleyball.” Fidalgo pointed to Grankin’s amazing history with both clubs and national teams. “He’s an Olympic champion, an athlete of exceptional skill,” Fidalgo added. He explained that while talent doesn’t guarantee success, it’s certainly their hope. Fidalgo also noted Grankin’s strong desire to join, which was a key factor. “He loved everything he saw about the club. An athlete of his level wanting to be with us shows how committed he is. We are incredibly happy about it.”
Grankin brings a trophy cabinet overflowing with achievements. On the international stage with the Russian national team, he won a bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. He also helped Russia claim two European Championships in 2013 and 2017. His national team success extends to two World League titles in 2011 and 2013. In 2007, his team finished as World Championship runners-up.
His club career is just as impressive, featuring stints with top teams like Dinamo Moscow, VC Belogorie Belgorod, Berlin Recycling Volleys, and Fakel Novy Urengoy. Sporting detailed his extensive club honors on their official website:
- Reached the CEV Champions League final in 2009/2010.
- Won the CEV Cup three times: 2011/2012, 2014/2015, and 2017/2018.
- Secured the Russian League title in 2007/2008.
- Took home the German League title three times: 2018/2019, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022.
- Claimed the Russian Cup twice: 2006/2007 and 2008/2009.
- Won the German Cup in 2019/2020.
- Lifted the Russian Super Cup twice: 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
- Earned the German Super Cup three times: 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022.
This move clearly signals Sporting’s ambition. Bringing in a player with Grankin’s pedigree could truly elevate the club’s performance and profile in the coming season.
