Wilfredo Leon

Personal life León was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba on 31 July 1993. He is the son of Wilfredo León Hechavarría and Alina Venero Boza (former volleyball player). He studied at Escuela Nacional del Voleibol Cubano. León lived in Poland for a while with his Polish girlfriend. On 24 June 2016, he married Małgorzata (born Gronkowska). They have three children: two daughters, born in May 2017 and June 2023, and a son, born in November 2019.

Career León started to play when he was seven. His first coach was his mother, Alina. León debuted in the Cuban national team on 24 May 2008, in Düsseldorf, aged 14 years and 10 months. He won the title of Best Receiver at World League 2009. On 31 July 2009, he won a silver medal in the World U21 Championship (after losing the final against Brazil). In 2009, the Cuban national team, with Leon, won the title of NORCECA Champion (and three individual awards), and repeated this success in 2011. After losing the final against Brazil, Cuba won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championship. He was the youngest captain of the national team (he was 17). In 2012, he won the bronze medal at the World League.

In 2013, León left Cuba to play in a club outside of his homeland, losing the possibility of playing for the Cuban national team. He joined Russian club Zenit Kazan in 2014, where he won multiple CEV Champions League titles, national leagues, and cups. He also played part-time with Qatar club Al Rayyan in 2015 and 2016. In September 2018, León joined Italian team SIR Safety Perugia.

On 14 July 2015, León received Polish citizenship, and four years later he became fully eligible to play for the Poland national team.

On 10 August 2024, he won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games held in Paris.

Honours

Club CEV Champions League

FIVB Club World Championship

CEV Challenge Cup

Domestic

Individual awards 2009: FIVB World League – Best server 2009: NORCECA Championship – Best spiker 2009: NORCECA Championship – Most valuable player 2011: Pan American Games – Most valuable player 2011: NORCECA Championship – Best spiker 2011: NORCECA Championship – Best scorer 2015: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2015: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player 2015: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2016: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2016: CEV Champions League – Most valuable player 2016: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2017: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2017: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2018: CEV Champions League – Best outside spiker 2019: CEV European Championship – Best outside spiker 2022: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2023: CEV European Championship – Most valuable player 2025: FIVB Nations League – Best outside spiker 2025: Polish SuperCup – Most valuable player 2026: Polish Cup – Best outside hitter

State awards

Record 138 km/h serve speed