United States’ Claressa Maria Shields, right, fights Kazakhstan’s Dariga Shakimova during a women’s middleweight 75-kg semifinals boxing match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016.
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Alison and Bruno Schmidt began playing as teenagers in Vitoria, Brazil but the duo split when Alison was recruited to play in Rio de Janeiro. However the Brazilian men lost in the gold medal match to Germany’s Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann.
Italy led 11-7 in the second set but Cerutti turned the tables as he reeled off seven of Brazil’s points in a row to put the world champions level at 14-14.
The Netherlands’ also gained an inaugural podium placing as Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen overcame Russian rivals Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Konstantin Semenov in the earlier bronze medal match.
Brazil’s Bruno Oscar Schmidt celebrates a point against Italy during the men’s beach volleyball gold medal match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. Walsh-Jennings rallied from her first-ever Olympic beach volleyball defeat to secure a bronze medal Wednesday, beating Brazil’s other pairing of Larissa and Talita-and capping an impressive career with yet another addition to the trophy case. Standing in their way at the midnight match will be Italy’s Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai.
Italy struck back and controlled the early stages of the second set to the tune of an 8-5 lead, but the bouncy Brazilians remained determined and battled back to tie things at 11 points apiece thanks to the support of a raucous home crowd.
Alison delivered his sixth block on the game-winner, knocking it off Lupo for the first of what the referee ruled were four touches – one too many. The Italians questioned the call, but by the time the score hit the scoreboard the Brazilian athletes were already in the stands.
As he has throughout the tournament, Alison egged on the crowd, pointing to his ear to encourage fans to yell louder after the Brazilians rallied from the early deficit.
Even with the loss, it was cause for celebration in Europe.
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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”.
