Italy, who entered the women’s volleyball final as the underdog, finally celebrated the Olympic gold. The USA was second and the volleyball bronze went to Brazil.
Italy went into the women’s volleyball final as underdogs against reigning Olympic champion USA.
It was the first time for Italy to play in the final at all – and by the time they reached the final, they had already secured their first ever Olympic medal in women’s volleyball.
The USA, on the other hand, in addition to the Olympic gold, had three Olympic silvers, two Olympic bronzes, and the team has also been on the podium five times at the World Championships.
However, the Olympic final turned out to be Italy’s show. In the final match, the USA fell in show style in three straight sets 3–0 (25–18, 25–20, 25–17).
– This was Italy’s sovereign control. In the attack, everyone took their own plot and the peace was visible in everything that was done. The kills in the game went 10–0 and the aces 7–3. USA had zero saves against Italy in the final. It amazes and tells how Italy has prepared its game, Urheilu’s expert Riikka Lehtonen comment.
Italy led the opening set from the start and jumped out to a seven-point lead at best. The USA came out sharper in the second set, but soon lost their lead. USA fell for mistakes, not its stars Kathryn Plummer and Andrea “Annie” Drews have reached their level.
The final set also started smoothly. The USA still led 6–5 at the beginning, until Italy got a six-point streak and finally took the final set 25–17. The entire match lasted only one hour and 21 minutes.
– If you compare the players, Italy was better in every area. No US player reached the level that Italy did. They got Flow on. The head coach Julio Velasco joined the team this year, and specifically for the Olympics. The team has developed over the years, and he has brought the finishing touch to this group. A deserved victory for Italy, Lehtonen saw.
After the championship was decided, the Italian party started to the rhythm of the classic hit Sarà perché ti amo. The players gathered to lift the one crying with joy Monica De Gennaro and threw this into the air. In the stands, the Italian supporters joined in the song.
Urheilu’s newsroom also got quiet to listen to the song.
– When Ricchi e Pover’s Sara Perche ti amo plays in Italy, it means that things have gone well. And it has gone well, Italy celebrates its first Olympic gold in volleyball, including men and women, the narrator Kalle Pallonen comment.
The bronze medal in women’s volleyball was won by Brazil, who beat Turkey 3–1 in the bronze medal match.