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CM – US women’s volleyball wins gold for the first time

The US is sweeping Brazil and never really challenged, resulting in an emotional celebration at the birthplace of Olympic volleyball.

CAMEROON MAGAZINE - GM08/08/202114 Mins read72 Views

TOKYO – When it was finally over, Brazil and the ghosts of Los Angeles and Beijing and London finally defeated, three-time Olympian Jordan Larson sank to her knees and buried her face sobbing in her hands, which she pressed against the Square and the golden moment more than half a century in the making.

There were certainly tears when a late American Saturday night peaked on the last Sunday afternoon at the Olympics.

The small towns and cities that created the trailblazers, all the places America’s finest players returned home with silver medals, the gold always seemingly just at their fingertips.

Team USA, returning to the birthplace of Olympic volleyball, made history at the Ariake Arena, beating Brazil 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 and becoming the first US women’s team to win the gold medal.

« It’s a great day to have a gold medal day, » said US mid-blocker Haleigh Washington.

The final was even more one-sided than the scores suggest, reflecting a tournament where the Anaheim-based USA lost just four sets in eight games, none in their three knockout games.

« The US is now the reference (point) for the world, » said Brazil coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes.

It’s a place US women have seemed headed towards since the 1980s, only to suffer heartbreak in three previous Olympic finals – 1984, 2008 and 2012.

Both US women and men played at the first Olympic volleyball tournament in Tokyo in 1964.

But after both US teams failed to qualify for either the 1972 or 1976 Games, a group of American women caught the attention of the world – and their compatriots.

« A very special group of people who were in some ways pioneers and trailblazers for US volleyball, and that was the 1980 Olympic women’s team, » said US coach Karch Kiraly. “The team that got us back on track was the 1980 Women’s Olympic Team.

While former US teams were quickly put together after short training camps and thrown into Olympic qualifying tournaments or other major international competitions, the women’s team was built up in 1980 through a one-year training program in Texas.

This 1980 team continued to show the US the way in the weeks leading up to the Tokyo Games. They recently had a 40th reunion in Colorado Springs, delayed by a year, where they sent video messages to the current squad for encouragement and advice.

For many of the current players, that part of the story was often just a break away. At least six members of the 1980 or 1984 Olympic teams are now in the ranks of college coaches.

Team USA also arrived in Tokyo with many memories of the recent history of the program. The US lost to Brazil in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Five years ago, in Rio de Janeiro, the US was upset in the semi-finals against Serbia, a team like Brazil in 2012, which the Americans had previously beaten in the tournament.

Kiraly built this team by matching young stars with veterans like underdog Larson and mid-blocker Foluke Akinradeno, another three-time Olympian.

« One of our goals for this tournament was for our team to call it the team we competed against across the network, » said Kiraly. “We tried to be a team that had the most connection and communication, as well as the trust and love, and our team tried so hard to be such a great team that 12 individual players (seemingly) more than 16 or more 17 players surrendered. So our team succeeded and we thought that this would give us the best chance of making history here in Tokyo. »

Larson also set a good example when the team couldn’t train together due to COVID-19 restrictions.

« I remember working in the garage, » she said. “I also had a peloton at home. I stopped jumping for two months, didn’t touch a ball for three months. At 33, I needed this break. Then I started things up again with plyometrics and jumping. There was a deadlock in our turf from those workouts. We see the dividends from the work we all do at home. »

Akinradeno set the tone for the US at the start of the first set and from there the US closed every time Brazil tried to get a run.

« It seemed very appropriate for our team to finally make history here at the birthplace of indoor Olympic volleyball and win its first Olympic gold medal, » said Kiraly.

Larson was soon bullied by her teammates in a kind of mosh pit with five rings. On the sidelines, Kiraly couldn’t hold back his own tears. It was the fourth gold medal that the 60-year-old San Clemente resident participated in. He won gold as an indoor player in 1984 and 1988 and on the beach in 1996.

« It was a very strong emotion that came over me, » he said. “I think it was stronger for me today than it was when I was a player, because we won the first Olympics I played in. We didn’t get close and lost, got close and lost, got close and fell short.

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It tastes and feels a lot more special going through the tough times of losing a 2008 Olympic final and losing a 2012 Olympic final.

« Helping this team to make history and do something they got close to but never did before, that’s what struck me. »

« I’m so excited for this team and these great women on this program, » he said. « I told them that not only are they bad asses, they are now gold medalists. »

Team USA’s Andrea Drews tips the ball during her Olympic gold medal game against Brazil on Sunday (Saturday evening PT) in Tokyo. The Americans swept the game to win their first gold medal. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley of the USA will play against Brazil during the gold medal game in women’s volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

Brazilian Fernanda Rodrigues shoots while playing against the United States during the women’s volleyball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

Justine Wong-Orantes of the United States, bottom left, speaks to teammate Jordan Larson as they play against Brazil during the women’s volleyball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan . (AP Photo / Manu Fernandez)

Brazil’s Rosamaria Montibeller (L) hits the ball as Andrea Drews (C) from the US and Haleigh Washington (R) from the US try to get it in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the US during the Olympics Tokyo 2020 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo block August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Brazil’s Gabriela Braga Guimaraes (R) hits the ball in front of USA Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (L) and Foluke Akinradewo in the women’s volleyball game for the gold medal between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on 8th 2021. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP) (Photo by ANTONIN THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (left) from the USA and Jordan Larson celebrate a point against Brazil in the gold medal game in women’s volleyball at the 2020 Olympic Summer Games on Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo / Manu Fernandez)

Andrea Drews (above) of the USA rises as Brazilian Gabriel Braga defends Guimaraes during the gold medal game in women’s volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

United States head coach Charles Kiraly reacts as the United States plays against Brazil during the women’s volleyball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo / Manu Fernandez)

The American Andrea Drews will serve in the women’s volleyball game for the gold medal between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

(LR) Haleigh Washington and Jordan Larson of the US attempt to block a shot in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the US during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021 . (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

US players celebrate after scoring a point in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP ) (Photo by JUNG YEON- JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Andrea Drews of the United States tips the ball during the game against Brazil during the women’s volleyball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

(LR) Michelle Bartsch-Hackley from the USA hits the ball in front of the Brazilians Gabriela Braga Guimaraes and Ana da Silva in the women’s volleyball game for the gold medal between Brazil and the USA during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Aug. 8, 2021. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Brazil’s women players react after scoring a point in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Aug. 8, 2021. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (L) of the USA tips the ball in the women’s volleyball game with gold medal between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP) (Photo by ANTONIN THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)

Brazilian Camila Brait (front) hits the ball in the women’s gold medal volleyball match between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Brazil’s Fernanda Rodrigues (L) hits the ball in front of Andrea Drews of the USA during the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. ( Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Andrea Drews (R) of the USA tips the ball during the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon -je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley # 14 of Team United States competes during the women’s gold medal match on day 16 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on 08 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Fernanda Rodrigues # 16 of Team Brazil competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on the 16th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Haleigh Washington # 22 and Jordan Larson # 10 of Team United States compete during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on day 16 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on August 8th. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Team Brazil’s Rosamaria Montibeller # 7 competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on the 16th (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Jordan Larson (C) of the USA tries to block the ball in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena, Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Haleigh Washington (R) of the US jumps to block while Brazilian Fernanda Rodrigues (L) holds the ball in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the US during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Fernanda Rodrigues # 16 of Team Brazil competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on the 16th (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Fernanda Rodrigues # 16 of Team Brazil competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on the 16th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Jordan Larson # 10 of Team United States competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on 08 Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley # 14 and Haleigh Washington # 22 of Team United States compete in the women’s gold medal match on Japan 16th. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Fernanda Rodrigues # 16 of Team Brazil competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on day 16 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on 08th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Gabriela Braga Guimaraes # 10 of Team Brazil competes against Andrea Drews # 11 of Team United States during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on the 16th (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Foluke Akinradewo # 16 of Team United States competes during the women’s gold medal match on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on 08. (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Foluke Akinradewo # 16 of Team United States competes during the women’s gold medal match on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on 08. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Head Coach Karch Kiraly of Team United States reacts as she breaks during the women’s gold medal match on the 16th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley # 14 and Haleigh Washington # 22 of Team United States compete in the women’s gold medal match on Japan 16th. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Team Brazil’s Rosamaria Montibeller # 7 competes during the Women’s Gold Medal Match on day 16 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Ariake Arena on 08th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Team United States’ Haleigh Washington # 22 and Jordyn Poulter # 2 react as they play in the women’s gold medal match on the 16th (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Head coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes from Team Brazil reacts as she races during the women’s gold medal match on the 16th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Haleigh Washington (right) of the USA blocks a shot by Brazilian Rosamaria Montibeller during the gold medal game in women’s volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

Andrea Drews # 11 of Team United States competes during the women’s gold medal match on Japan 16th. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Women players from the United States react after defeating Brazil to win the gold medal in women’s volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP photo / Frank Augstein)

Jordan Larson (L) from the USA and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley from the USA celebrate their victory in the women’s volleyball match with gold medal between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on March 8th. August 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Team United States players react after defeating Team Brazil during the women’s gold medal match on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

The US players celebrate their victory in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the US during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP ) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

The USA players celebrate their victory in the womens gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP) ( Photo by ANTONIN THUILLIER / AFP via Getty Images)

Team United States’ Kelsey Robinson # 23 and Justine Wong-Orantes # 4 react after they beat Team Brazil in the women’s gold medal match on the 16th (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

Foluke Akinradewo (L) and Jordan Thompson (R) of the USA celebrate their victory in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021 . (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Andrea Drews of the USA celebrates her victory in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Head coach Karch Kiraly of Team United States reacts after beating Team Brazil during the women’s gold medal match on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on the 8th (Photo by Phil Walter / Getty Images)

The American Jordan Thompson (R) celebrates his victory in the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the USA during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo on August 8, 2021 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

The USA players celebrate their victory in the womens gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) ( Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Head coach Karch Kiraly of Team United States reacts after hitting Team Brazil during the women’s gold medal match on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on the 8th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

Team United States players react as they get their gold medals during the victory ceremony after the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the United States on the 16th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

(LR) Jordyn Poulter and Andrea Drews from the USA pose with their gold medals during the women’s volleyball award ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Gold medalists USA celebrate during the women’s volleyball award ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Aug. 8, 2021. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Jordan Thompson (R) from the US poses with Justine Wong-Orantes (C) from the US and Chiaka Ogbogu (L) from the US with their women’s volleyball gold medals at a ceremony during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Aug. 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Gold medalists USA celebrate on the podium during the women’s volleyball award ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Aug. 8, 2021. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT – USA’s gold medalist Andrea Drews (L) celebrates with teammates during the women’s volleyball award ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP via Getty Images)

Team United States players react after receiving their gold medals during the award ceremony following the women’s gold medal volleyball game between Brazil and the United States on the 16th (Photo by Toru Hanai / Getty Images)

The women of @USAVolleyball win their first ever Olympic gold medal! #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/VAicS2KGwI

I want this program to have the experience of being at the top of the podium. I have no other words. »

Coach Karch Kiraly holds back tears of joy after the American women’s indoor volleyball team won its first Olympic gold medal. #TokyoOlympics #OlympicHERstory @usavolleyball pic.twitter.com/O9PDopI9B9

Hear from coach Karch Kiraly and Haleigh Washington after winning GOLD! #TokyoOlympics x @USAVolleyball x @TeamUSA x #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/yUtR3rxWV9

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