Christiane Fuerst (left, with Eczacibasi VitrA teammate Neslihan Demir Guler on her right) showing strong emotions at the 2015 CEV Denizbank Champions League finals
Lausanne, Switzerland, April 28, 2015 - Only five players have won two gold medals at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championships. Brazil’s Ida [Ana Margarida Alvares], Ana Moser and Fernanda Venturini won with Sadia Sao Paulo in 1991 and Leite Moca Sorocaba in 1994. Croatia’s Natasa Osmokrovic led Fenerbahce Istanbul to glory in 2010 and Rabita Baku in 2011, and Christiane Fuerst struck gold with Fenerbahce in 2010 and with cross-town rivals VakifBank in 2013.
Fuerst (pictured above with teammate Neslihan Demir Guler) is now eyeing a record third gold medal come the 2015 edition of the Women's Club World Championship which begins on May 6 in Zurich.
The German middle blocker, who turned 30 a few weeks ago, is now playing for a third Istanbul club: the freshly-crowned, star-studded European champions of Eczacibasi VitrA.
Fuerst has been collecting team medals and individual titles since the 1990s, when she started out with German club Dresdner SC. She then moved on to Italy, before settling in Istanbul six years ago. During her career, she has been named Best Blocker on countless occasions, both with Germany’s national team and with her club teams. She has also collected Best Spiker and Best Server awards. Her latest individual trophy was the Fair Play Award at the finals of the 2015 CEV Denizbank Champions League.
But a unique third gold at the Club Worlds would be a true highlight of her career. Fuerst now stands at three clubs and two golds - can she make it three out of three?
As Eczacibasi VitrA take to the court on Wednesday, May 6 at 17:30 local time (15:30 GMT) - for the opening match of Zurich 2015, against Japan’s Hisamitsu Springs - all eyes will be on Fuerst and her quest to reach the summit of the Women’s Club World Championship gold medal winners list.