No one gave the French volleyball team a chance at the Tokyo Olympics, but they went on a giant-killing spree to claim their first ever men’s gold. In Paris the pressure will be on the hosts, who now find themselves firmly among the favourites.
France scraped through to the knockout stage in Tokyo, and then suddenly kicked things up a notch and beat world champions Poland and the Russian team to not only win gold but popularise a sport that previously had little support back at home.
“We are known as Olympic champions. Of course it’s extra pressure to hold this title,” France setter Antoine Brizard said.
“In France, volleyball isn’t a big sport but the gym (arena) is now full when we play. It wasn’t like this two years ago.
“Going into the (Tokyo) Olympics, we thought about winning a medal, but we didn’t expect gold. It’s a feeling I never expected I could have, I can’t even explain it. It changed my life.”
The Tokyo Games, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were played in empty stadiums where players were even asked to wear masks when they stepped onto the podium to receive their medals.
Now France will have the opportunity to thrill their supporters in packed arenas on their home turf.
“It’s amazing for us to be in the prime of our careers and get to play the Olympic Games at home,” Brizard added.
Looking to stop France will be top-ranked Poland and the United States while reigning world champions Italy managed to qualify by virtue of their world ranking.
VNL 2023 champions Poland will be worthy contenders as they seek to translate their World Championship success in recent years – reaching the last three finals and winning two of them – to end a 48-year wait for an Olympic medal.
They have the 2023 VNL’s Most Valuable Player in Pawel Zatorski as well as last year’s EuroVolley MVP Wilfredo Leon in their ranks, while Bartosz Kurek, one of the world’s best opposite spikers, will be travelling to his fourth Olympics.
FOURTH OLYMPICS
In the women’s draw, the United States will be relying on experience to defend their Olympic crown, with coach Karch Kiraly naming eight players in the squad who helped the team win gold for the first time in Tokyo.
Veteran outside hitter Jordan Larson, the MVP in Tokyo, is travelling to her fourth Olympics and the 37-year-old is seeking a fourth medal having also won silver in London in 2012 followed by a bronze four years later in Rio.
“I’m constantly evolving,” Larson told Olympics.com. “The new generation is coming in and it’s just a different landscape.
“If I wanted to stick around, I had to figure out how to navigate that space. So I’m really grateful for how much I’ve grown. I’m a much different player than I was on the national team my first year (in 2009).”
Although the U.S. are defending champions, they are ranked fifth in the world with Turkey, Brazil and Poland among the favourites to fight for gold.
But Italy could be their biggest threat after the world’s top-ranked team won the 2024 VNL final where they beat Japan while Paola Egonu was crowned the tournament’s MVP with 257 points.
“We’ll have a tough battle at the Olympics,” said Japan captain Sarina Koga, who was also named best outside spiker. “We’ll prepare well.”