Brazil and Italy battled the elements in the men’s beach volleyball final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro late Thursday night, but sheets of rain didn’t deter Bruno Oscar Schmidt and Alison Cerutti in a 2-0 gold-medal victory at Copacabana Stadium.
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In both sets, the Brazilians fought back after Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo took early leads, but the power of Cerutti at the net and deft spikes by Schmidt ultimately took the match 21-19 21-17.
Brazil can clinch a gold medal in front of what is sure to be a raucous Copacabana crown on Thursday night when Bruno Schmidt and Alison Cerutti vie for an Olympic championship.
It added to what has been a good tournament for Brazil, with Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas winning silver in the women’s.
Dutch duo Robert Meeuwsen and Alexander Brouwer recovered from semifinal heartbreak to earn the bronze.
Italy opened a 5-1 lead but the hosts came back to win the first set.
Brazil’s Kahena Kunze, right, and Martine Grael celebrate their gold medal at the end of the 49er FX women race during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016.
The Netherlands beat Russian Federation earlier Thursday in a bronze-medal match that was subdued after two weeks of singing and samba dancing in the 12,000-seat venue. The Italians disputed the call of four touches, but by the time the score hit the scoreboard the 6-foot-8 player known as “Mammoth” was already celebrating near the stands.
Others covered their heads with the ever-present green and yellow flags but still managed to sing and samba the reigning world champions to victory.
Even with the loss, it was cause for celebration in Europe.
The European champions looked like the stronger duo early in the second set of the midnight match, but once again Brazil rallied to claim gold with a 21-17 second set scoreline.
Lupo and Nicolai still performed well to secure Italy’s first men’s Olympic medal in the sport. Heading into the Rio Games, the sport had been dominated by Brazilians and Americans, who combined to win 20 of a possible 30 medals.
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Brouwer and Meeuwsen appeared unfazed at their first Olympics, using a clinical attack to prevail 23-21 22-20. “Of course, it’s where the sport was invented”. “But if you talk about it now, we are on an even level”. Brouwer screamed before embracing his teammate.
