France and Italy dominated the volleyball courts at the Paris 2024 Olympics, painting the South Paris Arena 1 blue as they secured gold medals in the men’s and women’s competitions. France, defending champions, rode a wave of euphoria at their home Olympics, delivering the country’s 15th gold in Paris with assured performances. They lost only one match in the group stage, showcasing their dominance en route to back-to-back titles. The French team, favored to win in Paris, did not disappoint their home fans, many of whom had purchased tickets months in advance, anticipating a gold medal run. “If they weren’t here, we wouldn’t have reached the semifinals,” said France’s Antoine Brizard, acknowledging the passionate crowd that created a lively atmosphere at the arena. “I always say that Tokyo was huge and somebody asked me how it could be better. I said, ‘Winning at home.'” For Poland, the wait for a second gold medal continues into a fifth decade. After reaching their first final since 1976, they fell to France in straight sets, leaving them with a silver medal. However, Poland’s journey to the final was a milestone in itself, as they overcame the quarterfinal hurdle for the first time since 2004. “If someone offered us the silver medal before (the Games), we would all have signed in blood,” said Poland coach Nikola Grbic. “For many, many years we haven’t been able to go past the quarter-finals, so just the first step of going through was amazing.” Italy’s women’s volleyball team, having never advanced beyond the quarterfinal stage, achieved a historic victory in Paris. They claimed their first-ever Olympic medal in the sport without dropping a single match. Italy showcased their superiority by crushing Serbia, Turkey, and the United States in the knockout rounds with 3-0 scores, denying the Americans a second consecutive gold medal. “This is a victory for the women’s volleyball movement. In Italy, it is the number one women’s sport,” said Italy coach Julio Velasco, who took over in November. “We just lacked a victory of this magnitude to take that leap forward at all levels.”
France and Italy Dominate Volleyball at Paris 2024 Olympics
