The Cuban volleyball player known as Uralochka Ailama Montalvo has left Russia. Citing racial insults against her, she decided to depart the club, according to reports. The club’s general manager, Valentina Ogienko, denied that any racial incident influenced the move, stating the decision to leave was not connected to the alleged scandal.
It was explained that the local climate did not suit her, her contract had expired, and she chose to return to Cuba. She reportedly appreciated the team and the people there, and she reflected positively on her overall experience in Yekaterinburg.
Montalvo had previously published a message reflecting on the controversy, stating she was not offended and had moved past the issue. She suggested that this message did not relate to the events surrounding the case.
what happened during the match
During a break in the Russian Championship final between Lokomotiv Kaliningrad and Uralochka-NTMK, head coach Andrey Voronkov used a racial slur in reference to one of his players. The remark appeared aimed at the only Black player on Uralochka, Montalvo, and was captured by television cameras, triggering widespread discussion.
Match TV reported that the Lokomotiv coach had not issued an apology as of now. Neither the federation nor Lokomotiv had publicly addressed the incident, according to Uralochka officials.
Sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev criticized the lack of response to the racist remark, noting the apparent quiet around the incident on his social channels.
On social media, Montalvo bid farewell to the Yekaterinburg club and expressed gratitude for the time spent there, promising to cherish memories of the experience for a long time.
Her message read that thanks were due to Uralochka for the opportunity to play for a great club, to the teammates for the moments shared, and to the fans for their support. She said the time spent with the club would remain in her heart forever.
Montalvo joined Uralochka in 2019 and helped the team secure silver and bronze medals in the Russian Championships. She has represented the Cuban national team since 2017 and has earned multiple youth and junior medals throughout her career, including bronze medals in Pan American events and a Most Valuable Player honor in the 2019 Pan American Cup for under-23 players.
Who will replace Montelvo?
Former Russian national team player Dmitry Fomin spoke to socialbites.ca about the challenge of filling the gap left by the 21-year-old Cuban. He described Montalvo as a key contributor who recorded significant scoring at the frontline, and he warned that finding a like-for-like replacement would be difficult.
Fomin noted that the market has limited options at this time and that assembling a champion lineup is not something that can be achieved simply by throwing money at clubs. The sense was that the market would require time and careful planning to rebuild the squad.
Meanwhile, there were statements that false remarks about Montalvo would not derail the national women’s league. The director suggested that the Russian Volleyball Federation and club leadership would determine the best path forward, and that the league would continue its competition with or without a single star player.
The situation remains a notable episode, with observers paying attention to how the issue will be resolved and what it means for the league’s culture. The director stressed that no ill intent was attributed to the Lokomotiv coach and that the eventual decisions would aim to restore trust and fairness in the sport, inviting follow-up coverage on the outcomes of the inquiry .