Paola Egonu, one of the world's best volleyball players, says she is tired of being questioned about her nationality.


Paola Egonu, born in the northern town of Cittadella to two Nigerian parents, is a leading member of the Italian national team and considered one of the best players in the world [File: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters]

Global volleyball superstar Paola Egonu's comments this weekend about quitting the Italian national team over racist abuse have prompted a wave of solidarity on social media and a debate over racism in the country's sports community.

In a video posted online by a fan on Saturday after Italy won the women's world championship bronze medal against the United States, the Black athlete is heard telling her agent: "This is my last game with the national team."

"You can't understand," she said. "They still ask me why I am Italian."

The 23-year-old did not specify who she was referring to, but Italian volleyball federation head Giuseppe Manfredi told local media that Egonu was racially abused on social media after Italy lost Thursday's semi-final against Brazil.

In a statement commenting on Egonu's remarks, Manfredi expressed his sorrow for the attacks and noted that Egonu had represented Italy at all levels.

In an interview with Sky News after the publication of the video, Egonu said that rather than retiring from the national team, she would like to take a break - stressing that it was due to being the target of racist comments among other issues.

"To think that I have read people asking me why I am Italian makes me wonder why I should represent these kinds of people," she said.

Egonu, one of the world's best players, has long been praised for being a key member of the national team, but she's also been a frequent target of criticism following some of the team's losses.

On Sunday, Italy's outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi called Egonu to express his support, and his office described the athlete on Twitter as a "source of pride to Italian sport" who "will have future opportunities to win other trophies wearing the national team jersey".

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