Full Name: Foluke Atinuke Akinradewo Gunderson
Date of Birth: October 5, 1987
Hometown / Early Life: Born in London, Ontario, Canada; raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Citizenship / Heritage: Holds Canadian, American, and Nigerian citizenship; daughter of Ayoola and Comfort Akinradewo
Education & Early Years
Foluke Akinradewo attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, where she distinguished herself in multiple sports — volleyball, basketball, and track & field. She earned all-state honors multiple times and in 2005 was named Florida Dairy Farmers Volleyball Player of the Year.
She then enrolled at Stanford University, studying Human Biology and simultaneously building a stellar collegiate volleyball career. As a Cardinal, she earned 4-time All-American honors, was twice named Pac-10 Player of the Year, and graduated holding an NCAA Division I record for career hitting efficiency — .446.
Professional & International Volleyball Career
Akinradewo’s talent was evident early: she joined the U.S. national volleyball setup in 2005 — even before completing college — and began a long, successful run with the national team.
Olympic Achievements:
Silver — 2012 London Olympics
Bronze — 2016 Rio Olympics
Gold — 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) — completing the full set of Olympic medals.
World & International Titles:
Gold — 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix with USA
Gold — 2014 FIVB World Championship (USA’s first-ever world championship title in women’s volleyball)
Gold — 2021 Nations League
Club Career:
After college she turned professional. She played for clubs in Japan (Toyota Auto Body Queenseis), Russia (Dinamo Krasnodar), Azerbaijan (Rabita Baku), Switzerland (Voléro Zürich), and Japan again (Hisamitsu Springs).
With Rabita Baku, she was part of squads that won multiple Azerbaijan league titles.
Her stint with Hisamitsu Springs saw her win several domestic honors; by 2022 she and the club announced their parting after five seasons.
Family, Personal Life & Other Facts
Parents: Ayoola and Comfort Akinradewo. She has two siblings, Folu and Foluso.
Married to Jonathan Gunderson; they have a son named Kayode (born December 2019)
She returned to elite-level volleyball after childbirth — a demonstration of resilience that earned wide acclaim.
Her play style as a middle blocker — combining height (6′3″ / 191 cm), athleticism, and court IQ — has made her one of the most respected players of her generation.
Legacy & Impact
Foluke Akinradewo’s career is remarkable not just for medals and titles, but for consistency, longevity, and versatility: elite performance across continents, overcoming personal challenges like pregnancy, and representing a multicultural heritage — Nigerian descent, Canadian birth, American upbringing — at the highest levels.
Her success has inspired many: young athletes (especially women of African or immigrant backgrounds), mothers balancing parenthood and sport, and anyone who believes talent plus hard work can transcend boundaries.
Her Olympic gold in 2021 — after returning as a mother — added a powerful narrative of resilience and determination. She stands as a global ambassador for volleyball, athletic excellence, and multicultural identity.
Sources
Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson — Team USA athlete biography.
“Foluke Akinradewo: Stanford ’09 wins gold at her third Olympics, first as a mother” — The Stanford Daily, Aug 2021.
“Akinradewo back stronger after becoming a mother” — FIVB / Volleyball World, June 2021.
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