Yekaterina Aleksandrovna Gamova (Russian: Екатерина Александровна Гамова; born 17 October 1980) is a Russian retired volleyball player. She was a member of the Russian national team that won the gold medals at the 2006 and 2010FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championships, and the silver medal in both the Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000Olympic Games. Due to her stature and dominance at the net, she has been hailed as the "Queen of Volleyball". She is 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) tall with EU size 49 feet, making her one of the tallest female athletes in the world. She is also the second highest paid female player in professional volleyball history.[1][2] Her role was outside hitter/opposite.
After the defeat in the quarterfinals by Brazil in the 2012 Olympics she considered quitting the national team but still continued playing at club level. "I will take a break with the national team. I don't know if it will be a permanent leave, or if I will resume after a long pause."[8]
Gamova won with the Russian club Dinamo Kazan the 2013–14 CEV Champions League held in Baku, Azerbaijan, defeating the home owners Rabita Baku 3 - 0 in the semifinals[9] and the Turkish VakıfBank İstanbul 3 - 0 in the final.[10] She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Best Scorer.[10]
Gamova won gold medal in the 2014 FIVB Club World Championship when her team defeated the Brazilian club Molico Osasco 3 - 0 in the championship match. She was named Best Opposite Spiker and Most Valuable Player among the championship Best Team.[11]
In May 2016, Gamova announced on Match TV and her Facebook page her wish to retire from the sports due to an injury.[12] With that said, she won't be participating at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[13]
Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II class (19 April 2001) - for the huge contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, and for the huge sports destinations at the XXVII Summer Olympics in Sydney in 2000[15]
Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" I class (3 October 2006) - for the huge contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, and for sports destinations[16]
Decoration of Honour for Services in the Development of Physical Culture and Sports (28 April 2016)[17]