Italian Olympian Giulia Rondon Announces Retirement

Just a few weeks before her 31st birthday, Italian setter Giulia Rondon took to her official Instagram account to announce to her fans her retirement from volleyball:

“Guys! There are those who think I am crazy, and there are those who think I am great. I am just so happy !!!!! It is time to announce my retirement from volleyball. I do it with this picture taken in one of the most beautiful moments of my career. I thank to my companions, coaches, fans and all the people I met during many seasons. I am happy to be the person I am and I owe it to them too .. now new challenges await me and I can not wait.”

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Ragazzi.. c'è chi mi crede una pazza e chi una grande…io sono semplicemente felice così!!!!! È arrivato il momento di annunciare il mio ritiro dalla pallavolo.. lo faccio con questa foto scattata in uno dei momenti più belli della mia carriera.. grazie alle mie compagne, allenatori, tifosi e a tutte le persone che ho incontarato durante le tante stagioni.. sono felice di essere la persona che sono e questo lo devo anche a loro.. adesso nuove sfide mi aspettano ed io non vedo l'ora..!!! #nuoviinizi #felicità #primaopoidovevaessere #èarrivatoilmomento 🤞🐞🍀

A post shared by Giulia Rondon (@giulia.rondon) on Sep 14, 2018 at 1:47pm PDT

Rondon played the 2017/18 season for Pomi Casalmaggiore, and before that enjoyed successful tenures in most of Italy’s biggest teams such as Pesaro, Piacenza, Perugia, Modena, and Scandicci in a career that spanned 14 seasons and 355 games. She was also a member of the Italian national team since 2005, winning the 2009 European Championship and Grand Champions Cup with the squad, and participating at the 2012 London Olympic Games.