Bello Brothers seize historic bronze for England at 2022 Commonwealth Games
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On Sunday, England’s Javier and Joaquin Bello overpowered Rwanda 2-0 (21-11; 21-12) to win a historic bronze medal in Beach Volleyball at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. If there was a roof on the Smithfield Arena - or, as it has been fondly nicknamed, the ‘Bellodrome’ - it would have been blown right off as the Bellos soared to victory.
The Bellos were cool and calm and put Rwanda under relentless pressure, controlling the game throughout. A landmark day for the country, the medal is up there amongst England’s very best achievements on the world stage. It comes five years after the Bello Brothers won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
The Bellos beat Tuvalu 2-0 (21-10; 21-12) and Cyprus 2-0 (21-11; 21-18) in Pool C but lost to New Zealand 2-0 (19-21; 16-21) to advance to the quarterfinals. There they beat Gambia 2-1 (21-16; 20-22; 15-12) in what was a war on court but, despite a strong start, were stopped in the semi-finals by Canada in a 1-2 (21;15; 13-21; 7-15) encounter, setting them up for a bronze medal match against Rwanda.
Joaquin Bello“This is, by far, the biggest achievement we have ever had. It is the biggest stage we have ever played in at a senior event, but it will not be our last. I am so incredibly grateful to my family. We dedicate these medals to our family. They have worked as hard as us to get here. We know the sacrifice our parents make, and we are very proud of them. We want to move up the world rankings, try to qualify for Paris 2024 and want to be the best Beach Volleyball players we can be.”
Javier added, “We were gutted yesterday [after losing their semi-final] and that fired up [our] intensity. From the first point to the last, we were in our highest gear, we pushed the serve, did not let them breath a lot. I am really proud of my brother, the way he stayed with it and the way he helped me out when I was struggling. I am really proud of my performance [too].
“This event is going to be huge for Beach Volleyball. The amount of people who are cheering us from the stands, from home on TV, on social media, seeing what an amazing show it is and how it can be enjoyed in the UK as well as in Brazil and other locations. We have a competitive team and fans, so why can’t it be as big as football or any other sport?”
Team DJ brought the party
The Bellos’ bronze medal came two days after their compatriots Daisy Mumby and Jess Grimson exited the women’s competition after a brave performance against New Zealand in the quarterfinals. “I am disappointed with the result, but not disappointed with our performance. I am pretty proud of how we played. I think we put up a good fight against a strong team. It was just a shame we could not fight a little harder in the key moments. But I am still happy with how we played,” Mumby said.
Jess Grimson“This is the middle of the season and I have actually missed five tournaments by being here but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I have a week off then we are going to a tournament in Austria. This is just a small part of the rest of the journey. It is key for us to push the sport further. With Daisy’s physicality and the level we are playing at the moment, we can get people excited."
Pictures courtesy of sandsphotos
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