Year in Review: Tokyo Olympics crowns French golden generation
Editorial
European volleyball achieved its best Olympic result in 20 years this past summer in Tokyo, when national teams of the continent took home one medal of each kind at the conclusion of the tournament played at the Ariake Arena.
The result brought all kinds of feelings to the countries that stepped on the podium as France celebrated their first Olympic medal when their men’s team won gold, Russia’s male squad returned to the podium after missing it out in Rio 2016 and Serbia secured a medal for the European women for the second-straight Olympic edition by taking bronze.
From all three, France had certainly the biggest reason to celebrate as the 2015 European champions managed to win gold in just their fifth appearance and became the tenth different nation in the continent to secure an Olympic medal – and the fifth to have topped the podium.
Their dramatic five-set victory over Russia in the gold medal match made the team that barely made it out of pool play end the tournament at the top of the world and also crowned the country’s most talented generation with a victory that will remain forever in the history books.
A 26-point performance against the Russians cemented star outside hitter Earvin Ngapeth as the Olympics Most Valuable Player.
Earvin Ngapeth“I prepared well mentally for this match. I had to keep smiling and provide that calm feeling to my teammates. I felt good today but the ROC almost put doubt on my mind but we managed to remain calm and nobody was shut out. We didn’t give up and that made the difference.”
French Volleyball Player
The gold medal match appearance was also celebrated by Russia, which claimed a record 11th Olympic medal and the sixth in the last seven editions of the event.
Igor Kobzar“I don’t have the feeling of emptiness. We have lots of emotions, apparently. I have a feeling of completion. We didn’t win, but I still feel that we have finished something. Everyone understood this was a very spectacular game. It was a game worth of the finals. And I’m sure that everyone who was watching agrees with this.”
Russian Captain
Europe also dominated the tournament’s Dream Team with France – Ngapeth, middle blocker Barthelemy Chinenyeze and libero Jenia Grebennikov – and Russia – outside hitter Egor Kliuka, middle blocker Ivan Iakovlev and opposite Maxim Mikhaylov – having each three players join Argentinean setter Luciano De Cecco in the ideal lineup.
The Serbian female team were the only Europeans to return to the podium in Tokyo after taking silver in Rio five years ago as well. The reigning world champions defeated Korea in straight sets to rank only behind gold medalists the United States and silver medalists Brazil in the standings and secure their second Olympic medal.
Tijana Boskovic“I am happy and proud that we are bringing home one more Olympic medal for Serbian volleyball. We had a strong motivation to win this bronze and now we can go home happy because we achieved that.”
Serbian Opposite
After scoring 33 points in the bronze medal match, Boskovic was the only European to make it to the tournament’s Dream Team as the best player in her position.