Volleyball World once again showed a sense of humor and imagination by publishing a series of collages in which some of the biggest stars of world volleyball are transformed into participants of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan–Cortina 2026.
The idea is simple but brilliant:
„What if even more of our volleyball icons went multisport in Milano Cortina?“
We're not saying they'll win medals… but we're not saying they won't either.
The volleyball players who "swapped" the taraflex for snow
| Star | Country | Winter sport in the collage |
|---|---|---|
| Yuji Nishida | Japan | Snowboard |
| Gabi Guimarães | Brazil | Cross-country skiing |
| Eda Erdem | Turkey | Luge |
| Paola Egonu | Italy | Speed skating |
| Simone Giannelli | Italy | Ice Hockey |
| Luca Porro | Italy | Curling |
| Nikolov Brothers (Alex + ?) | Bulgaria | Bobsleigh tandem |
| Who is the star? | Italy | Biathlon |
The collages are a hit because each choice is made with a nod to the volleyball qualities of the stars \u2013 speed, balance, reaction, and competitive spirit. Nishida looks like a typical \u201cflying\u201d attacker even on a snowboard, and Egonu seems tailor-made for an ice track with her explosiveness.
The Bulgarian tease: the Nikolov brothers in bobsleigh
One of the most discussed collages for the Bulgarian audience is the one with the \u201cBULGARIA\u201d team, where Alex Nikolov is clearly recognizable.
The second competitor remains a mystery, but the message is obvious \u2013 the tandem suggests it's about the Nikolov brothers, transformed into an Olympic bobsleigh team.
| Collage | Idea | Why does it work? |
|---|---|---|
| Bobsleigh Bulgaria | Brotherly tandem | Strength, synchronicity, and "team pulling" towards victory |
Comment:
This is one of the most entertaining highlights in the series - not only because of the Bulgarian flag, but because volleyball is also a sport of partnership and trust, just like bobsleigh.
The Italian four in a parallel universe
Volleyball World paid special attention to the Italian stars, accompanying their collages with the following text:
In a parallel world ❄️😂, Italy's volleyball champions swap kneepads for skis, ice, and speed suits – in pursuit of medals where snow has replaced the Taraflex.
Different universe. Same competitive fire. 🌀
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| Italian star | Winter sport | Volleyball analogy |
|---|---|---|
| Simone Giannelli | Hockey | The setter orchestrates the game on the ice too |
| Paola Egonu | Speed skating | Speed and power like a diagonal attack |
| Luca Porro | Curling | Tactics and precision like a serve plan |
| Who is the star | Biathlon | Endurance and composure under pressure |
Commentary and analysis:
The comparison with 'taraflex' is brilliant – the surface changes, the sport changes, but the champion's character remains the same.
One mystery remains…
The only star that fans have not yet certainly recognized is the Italian woman in biathlon gear.
And perhaps that is precisely the goal – Volleyball World leaves the final word to the audience.
Question for the fans
Which 'crossover' is your favorite?
Nishida on a snowboard
Egonu on the ice track
Giannelli in hockey gear
Or the Nikolov brothers in Bulgarian bobsleigh?
And most importantly…
Who is the mysterious biathlete?
collages:.volleyballworld.com
