The player receives recognition for her career on the sand where she took her first steps in beach volleyball
Emotional tribute to four-time Olympian Liliana Fernández Steiner in Benidorm
Four-time Olympian Liliana Fernández Steiner received a moving tribute this Sunday in Benidorm from family, friends, and those who have been by her side throughout an impeccable career among the world's beach volleyball elite. The tribute took place at the end of the WEVZA Benidorm European tournament, which took place last weekend on Poniente Beach and crowned the Dutch Negenman/Radstake champions after defeating Spaniards Nazaret Florián and Adriana Serrano in the final (2-0).
The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, joined the Benidorm native in this moving tribute, along with Sports Councillor Javier Jordá, and other members of the municipal council, including the regional deputy José Ramón González de Zárate.
Lili was supported by her former teammates Elsa Baquerizo and Paula Soria, as well as coaches Sebastián Menegozzo and Sixto Jiménez, at an event sponsored by the Spanish Volleyball Federation and the Valencian Community Volleyball Federation. The Benidorm-born player was very emotional during the tribute, which took place on the beach where she took her first steps in the sport alongside her mother, Draguy Steiner, who was very present at the event despite her death in 2022.
Surrounded by her family and friends, Lili expressed her gratitude for all the support she has received since she decided to join Elsa Baquerizo, with whom she formed an extraordinary partnership for 14 years. In addition, the Benidorm-born player also praised the contribution of Paula Soria, from Orihuela, who allowed her to compete in her fourth Olympic Games in Paris last summer after becoming a mother twice, achieving a very commendable eighth place.
In addition to Mayor Toni Pérez, the tribute was also attended by many other dignitaries, including the president of the Spanish Volleyball Federation, Felipe Pascual; the director general of Sports of the Valencian Regional Government, Luis Cervera; the president of the Valencian Community Volleyball Federation, Arturo Ruiz; and the director of Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, Juan Miguel Gómez, among others.
