Chiaka Ogbogu

Chiaka Ogbogu
Chiaka Ogbogu
Personal information
Full name	Chiaka Sylvia Ogbogu
Nationality	American
Born	April 15, 1995(age 29); Newark, New Jersey,U.S.
Hometown	Coppell, Texas,U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	161 lb (73 kg)
Spike	125 in (318 cm)
Block	121 in (307 cm)
College / University	University of Texas
Volleyball information
Position	Middle blocker
Current club	LOVB Austin
Number	24 (national team)
National team
	United States
Medal record
Women’sVolleyball
RepresentingtheUnited States
Olympic Games
World Cup
FIVB Nations League
Pan-American Cup

Chiaka Sylvia Ogbogu(/tʃiˈɑːkəoʊˈbɒɡuː/chee-AH-kə oh-BOG-oo;born April 15, 1995)^[1]is an American professionalvolleyball player.As a member of theUnited States women's volleyball teamshe has earned titles at multiple international competitions, including a gold medal at the2020 Summer Olympicsand a silver medal at the2024 Summer Olympics.

Early life

Ogbogu was born in 1995 inNew JerseytoIgboparents. Her family moved to Dallas shortly after she was born. She began playing volleyball in middle school.^[2]She ledCoppell High Schoolto two straight volleyball Texas state championships in 2011 and 2012 and was a Gatorade Texas Player of the Year in 2012.^[3]

Ogbogu attendedUniversity of Texas at Austin,where she was a four-time AVCA All-American and the 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year.^[4]At the time of her graduation, Ogbogu held the university's record in career blocks.^[5]

Career

National team

Ogbogu has been part of the United States national team since 2018, when she debuted at the 2018 Pan American Cup and won gold. In the finals against Dominican Republic, she scored seven of the team's 17 blocks and was the second highest scorer on the team with 21 points overall.^[6]^[7]

In 2019, Ogbogu earned gold at theVolleyball Nations Leaguewith the national team. Ogbogu and the team again won gold at the next edition of the games in 2021. That year, she was named to the 12-player Olympic roster that would compete in the2020 Summer Olympicsin Tokyo. The team won Team USA its first-ever Olympic gold medal.^[2]

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Ogbogu was a starting middle blocker for all six of Team USA's matches. She earned silver with the team and was the only Team USA player named to the Paris Dream Team, earning the award for Best Middle Blocker.^[8]She was the second-highest scoring blocker of the Paris games with 21 blocks, averaging 3.50 blocks per match. During a pool play match against Serbia, Ogbogu scored eight blocks, tying the Olympic record for most blocks in a match.^[9]

Club

Ogbogu began her professional career in playing in Italy forIl Bisonte Firenzein 2017.^[10]She then joined the Polish clubChemik Policefor the 2018–2019 season, before returning to Italy to play forImoco Volley Coneglianofor the 2019–2020 season.^[11]She joined the Turkish clubEczacıbaşı Dynavitin 2020, then transferred toVakıfBankfor the 2021–2022 season.^[12]She remained with VakıfBank until 2024. In April 2024, American leagueLeague One Volleyball(LOVB) announced that Ogbogu would be a founding member of the league'sAustinteam for its inaugural season.^[13]