Erika Araki (荒木 絵里香, Araki Erika, born 3 August 1984) is a retired Japanese volleyball player. She served as captain for the national team from 2009 to 2012. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics winning a bronze medal,[1] and 2020 Summer Olympics, in Women's volleyball which she was the captain.[2]

Erika Araki
Personal information
NicknameErica
Born (1984-08-03) 3 August 1984 (age 40)
Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight78 kg (172 lb)
Spike318 cm (125 in)
Block312 cm (123 in)
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Number11 (2008-2010, 2016-2020)
5 (2012)
Career
YearsTeams
2003–2008
2008–2009
2009–2013
2014–2016
2016–2021
Japan Toray Arrows
Italy Foppapedretti Bergamo
Japan Toray Arrows
Japan Ageo Medics
Japan Toyota Auto Body Queenseis
National team
2005–2021 Japan Japan
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London Team
World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Japan Team
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2006 Doha
Asian Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 Suphanburi
Gold medal – first place 2017 Biñan/Muntinlupa
Silver medal – second place 2011 Taipei
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Taicang
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Hanoi

Career

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Araki began her professional volleyball career with the Toray Arrows from 2003 to 2008.[3] In July 2008, she joined Foppapedretti Bergamo.[3] Araki returned to the Arrows the following season. From 2010 to 2013, Araki served as team captain. On 18 June 2013, the team announced her marriage.[4] On 10 October 2013, Toray announced her pregnancy.[5] Araki joined the Ageo Medics in 2014 then Toyota Auto Body Queenseis.[6][7]

Personal life

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  • Her father was a rugby player at Waseda University. Her mother was a PE teacher.[8]
  • She was good at swimming and athletics as a child.
  • She became a volleyball player at 10 years old. At this age she was already 5 feet tall.
  • While attending Seitoku Gakuen High School with Kana Oyama, the volleyball team were national high school champions.
  • She has one daughter.[5][9]

Awards

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Individual

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  • 2004 The 10th Women's V.League - Best 6
  • 2006 The 12th Women's V.League - Best 6
  • 2007–08 Women's V.Premier League - Most Valuable Player, Spike awards, Block awards, Best 6
  • 2008 2008 Summer Olympics "Best Blocker"
  • 2009–2010 V.Premier League - Spike awards
  • 2010–2011 V.Premier League - Best 6
  • 2011-2012 V.Premier League - MVP, Block awards, Best 6
  • 2012-2013 V.Premier League - Excellent player awards, Block awards, Spike awards, Best server awards and Best 6

Team

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  • 2004 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2007 Domestic Sports Festival (Volleyball) -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2007–2008 Empress's Cup -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2007–2008 V.Premier League -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2008-09 Champions League -   Champion, with Volley Bergamo
  • 2009–10 V.Premier League -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2010 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2010–11 V.Premier League -   Runner-up, with Toray Arrows
  • 2011 Empress's Cup -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2011–12 V.Premier League -   Champion, with Toray Arrows
  • 2012-2013 V.Premier League -   Runner-up, with Toray Arrows

National team

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Senior team

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References

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  1. ^ "Erika ARAKI". Olympics.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Volleyball ARAKI Erika". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Erika Araki". Volleybox.net. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  4. ^ Toray Arrows. "荒木絵里香選手の入籍について". Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b Toray Arrows. "荒木選手の退社について". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Erika Araki - Toyota Auto Body Queenseis". V-League Official Site. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  7. ^ "11 Erika Araki". Toyota Auto Body Queenseis Official Web Site. Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  8. ^ "東京五輪主将のバレー荒木絵里香が引退 14年長女出産後に現役復帰、活躍" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  9. ^ "荒木絵里香が現役引退へ…バレーボール女子日本代表主将、五輪4大会連続代表の鉄人" (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
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