Mikaela Hestmann Tierno stands out as a promising talent in Brazilian volleyball, currently showcasing her skills at the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship in Serbia and Croatia. At just 17, she is dedicated to her passion for volleyball, pursuing the common dream of athletes to become an Olympic champion. Notably, her commitment to the sport seemingly influenced a significant family decision.
Born in Norway in 2007 to a Norwegian mother and Brazilian father, Mikaela moved to Rio de Janeiro at two months old. Growing up in Rio, it`s perhaps unsurprising that volleyball became a central part of her life. Initially drawn to beach volleyball, she joined her older brothers playing on Rio`s expansive beaches around age 10.
“I began playing volleyball in 2017,” the 1.81m-tall outside hitter shared during the U19 World Championship in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia. “My brothers were into beach volleyball, which is very popular in Rio de Janeiro where I grew up. So, I started playing with them on the sand. Later, I joined a club and my fondness for the sport grew significantly.”
Approximately four years ago, Mikaela`s mother and brothers decided to return to Norway. However, the ambitious young volleyball player chose to remain in Brazil, prioritizing her dedication to the sport.
“I spent my entire life in Brazil,” she explained, “but my family – my two brothers and my mother – relocated to Norway in 2021. Only my father stayed with me in Brazil because I was determined to stay here to play volleyball.”
“I`ve always had a strong passion for sports and tried many different activities,” Mikaela stated. “But I feel like I truly found my place in volleyball. I genuinely enjoyed the daily training sessions and the sense of camaraderie and team spirit. It felt right and comfortable, so I just kept pursuing it.”
Mikaela`s talent was recognized early on; at just 14, she was already competing for Brazil in international U19 tournaments, securing two continental silver medals in 2022 at the U19 Pan American Cup and the Girls’ U19 South American Championship. The next year, she participated in the 2023 U19 World Championship. As she matured and gained experience, she became a consistent starter and an inspiring leader for her youth national squad.
Last summer, she not only helped lead Brazil to win the continental title at the U19 South American Championship but also received the Most Valuable Player award, was named to the Dream Team, and demonstrated her serving prowess by delivering 10 aces, earning recognition as the tournament`s best server. Notably, Mikaela was Brazil`s top server during the pool stage of the current U19 World Championship. In their pool match victory against host Serbia, she notably contributed six aces.
Mikaela`s significant progress did not go unnoticed. She was given the chance to make her professional debut in Brazil’s women`s Superliga during the 2024-2025 season, handpicked by the legendary volleyball figure Bernardo Rezende for his team, Sesc RJ Flamengo Rio de Janeiro.
“Oh, it was incredible!” she exclaimed. “Playing under Bernardo and his assistant coaches was simply the best experience I could imagine. Everything felt right. Bernardo is truly a unique coach. Mauricio Thomas, our current coach here, also worked with him, so they have similar approaches on the court, which made it easy for me to adapt to him as well. Perhaps the most valuable lessons I learned from Bernardo were about team spirit and the absolute importance of hard work. I believe hard work is fundamental for any athlete. I constantly remind myself that dedication and diligent effort will always boost my self-confidence. If I train hard and effectively, I know I will perform well.”
“Naturally, my main ambition is to become an Olympic champion,” Mikaela stated, outlining her primary career goal. “That’s a dream shared by every athlete. However, I also really want to win the Superliga with Bernardo and our team in Rio.”
Brazil emerged victorious in all of their initial six matches at the U19 World Championship in Serbia, securing their spot in the final rounds of the competition held in Croatia.
“Everyone on the team truly believes in our potential,” Mikaela commented. “We feel confident in this championship, but we are also mindful that the other teams are very strong and have come through challenging matches. That`s the reality, so we simply focus on performing our best. I personally feel I can still improve significantly, but I`m trying not to be overly self-critical.”
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood