Former Gopher Airi Miyabe to Compete for Japan in 2024 Olympics

In exciting news for volleyball fans, former Gophers player Airi Miyabe is set to represent Team Japan in the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Japan is gearing up to compete in Pool B, facing off against tough opponents including Poland, Brazil, and Kenya. The stakes are high as only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage, which includes 16 teams. Fans can catch all the action as every match will be available for streaming.

Miyabe’s Olympic journey begins on Sunday, July 28, with Japan’s first match against Poland at 6 a.m. CT. Following that, they will take on Brazil on August 1 and finish their pool play against Kenya on August 3, both also at 6 a.m. CT.

The University of Minnesota volleyball program has a remarkable history in the Olympics, consistently producing top talent. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, for instance, former Gopher players Tori Dixon, Hannah Tapp, and Sarah Wilhite Parsons were named alternates for the U.S. Olympic team.

Airi Miyabe, who played as an outside hitter at Minnesota, will be diving into this prestigious event as a middle blocker for Japan. Her selection to the Olympic team comes after an impressive performance in the Volleyball Nations League, where she played a key role in helping Japan reach the finals for the first time.

While with the Gophers, Miyabe stood out academically as a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection from 2019-21. Her contributions on the court were significant, leading her team through various stages of NCAA tournaments, including a Final Four appearance.

In her standout season of 2021, she made a big impact, playing in 27 matches and showcasing her skills with an average of nearly three kills and a solid performance in pivotal matches, including a career-high 18 kills against Baylor.