Brazil & USA: First medal dreams and gold glory at Paris 2024
The Brazil men’s team is on a challenging mission to win their first Paralympic medal, while USA women’s team is aiming to match China’s incredible record of three consecutive gold medal victories. With their strong performances in recent years, both squads are poised for success on the quadrennial.
Brazil’s Medal Mission
Having narrowly missed the podium in the last two Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, the Brazilian men’s team is determined to secure their first Paralympic medal at Paris 2024. Their quest gained momentum after their bronze medal finish at the World Championship, followed by a stellar performance at the 2023 ParaVolley Pan America Zonal Championship held at Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, finally clinching the spot for Paris and confirming their fifth straight Games appearance.
Brazil showcased their dominance by defeating the USA in the final with a commanding victory. The Brazilians set the tone early, taking an early lead and maintaining their intensity throughout the match. Despite a spirited comeback from the USA, Brazil held their nerve, with key plays from Leandro and Giba. Brazil’s strong offence and defence ensured their win, with crucial points from Giba and Wellington sealing their championship victory.
Though Leandro and Giba are no longer part of the current roster, Brazil remain a formidable force with a lineup boasting of experienced players. Their Paris 2024 roster includes Alex Pereira Witkovski, Daniel Yoshizawa, Anderson Dos Santos, Diego Rebouças, Luis Fabiano De Oliveira, Levi Cesar Gomes, Marcio Borges, Renato Leite Oliveira, Raysson Fereira De Abreu Silva, Thiago Costa Dos Santos Rocha, Wescley Conceição De Oliveira and Wellington Platini Da Silva Anunciação, who are all set to compete and pursue their elusive first Paralympic medal.
USA’s Three-Peat Pursuit
Building on their successes at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, the USA women’s team is gearing up for Paris with their sights set on securing a third consecutive gold medal. Their journey to the upcoming Paralympic Games started with a bronze medal finish at the 2022 World Championship in Sarajevo, forcing them to earn their qualification spot at the ParaVolley Pan America Zone Championship.
In that tournament, USA displayed their dominance against Canada in their best-of-five series. In that final match that sealed their qualification spot, captain Monique Matthews led the charge as they clinched a 3-1 victory, confirming their sixth consecutive Paralympic Games appearance. Their most recent winning exploit was their successful title defence at the 2024 WPV Women’s Super 6 in Nancy.
USA’s Paris 2024 roster features 11 Paralympic gold medallists and a debuting libero. Key players include Monique Matthews, Katie Holloway Bridge, Whitney Dosty, Heather Erickson, Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, Emma Schieck, Lexi Shifflett-Patterson, Lora Webster-Bargellini, Bethany Zummo, Tia Edwards, Nicky Nieves, and Sydney Satchell, under the seasoned guidance of coach Bill Hamiter.
