BRAZIL: BEACH VOLLEYBALL: London Olympics 2012: Brazils beach volleyball pairs set for Olympic gold.

Record ID: 330875

  • Title: BRAZIL: BEACH VOLLEYBALL: London Olympics 2012: Brazils beach volleyball pairs set for Olympic gold.
  • Date: 5th July 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF SANTOS AND CUNHA POSING WITH OLYMPIC MEDALS
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6PUEXNDVRTUJZQE42HY42NSGU
  • Story Text: Brazil's legendary beach volleyball duo Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos go separate ways after two Olympic podiums and form new pairs as they prepare to take on a new challenge in London.


    Together, Brazil's beach volleyball stars Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos have stepped onto the Olympic podium more than once. But they decided to part ways after a disappointing bronze in Beijing and found themselves new partners as they prepare to take on a new challenge in London.
    Although their career peaked in 2004 with a gold medal in Athens, Emanuel and Ricardo have no plans of retiring. Now the two train daily in Rio de Janeiro's Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood with their new partners.
    Thirty-nine-year-old Emanuel decided to team up with 26-year-old Alison Cerutti who finished the 2009 season as the world's top-ranked beach volleyball team alongside Harley Marques.
    Together they won five tournaments in 2011, including the world championship, and will make it to London as favourites for the Olympic gold.
    Emanuel said he was feeling more prepared for the Olympic challenge than ever before.

    "The Emanuel of today, who is 39 years old, is much more mature and has a much better understanding of the Olympics and what I represent for my country. So I'm more prepared to go to an Olympic Games today and we also have a well-structured training agenda. I believe planning ahead of the Olympics is crucial; we need to know our short and long-term goals and establish objectives during this period," he said.
    Although both Emanuel and Ricardo have avoided the subject, rumour has it their breakup was friendly. The two have said they are better off now than before.
    Emanuel said the country's successful efforts to make the sport more professional, could work for other Olympic categories ahead of the 2016 Rio Games.
    Emanuel said he has learned to approach every game as if it were a final.

    "The greatest lesson I learned is that every game is important, every game is like a final and that you must be 100 percent for every game. During the Olympics in beach volleyball, we play one match per day, and each of these matches is like a final because we need to be very well prepared, knowing that something might go wrong and that you need to be prepared to face the situation in the best possible way," he said.
    In a sand court less than a mile away, Ricardo and his new younger duo Pedro Cunha are also training on a tight schedule to bring a medal back home.
    Ricardo and Pedro finished the season in sixth on the world rank in front of Brazil's other volleyball pair Marcio and Pedro Solberg.
    Ricardo said his breakup with Emanuel gave him extra motivation to continue competing.

    "The goal of having a new partner is to give us motivation. I have already been three times to the Olympic Games and I won three medals, so there is an expectation to perform the same as in the past Olympic Games," he said.
    Beach volleyball is Brazil's most successful Olympic sport with a total of nine medals, including two gold, five silver and two bronze.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register