BRAZIL: VOLLEYBALL: Women's volleyball overshadowed by stronger rivals ahead of London games
Record ID:
330897
BRAZIL: VOLLEYBALL: Women's volleyball overshadowed by stronger rivals ahead of London games
- Title: BRAZIL: VOLLEYBALL: Women's volleyball overshadowed by stronger rivals ahead of London games
- Date: 20th June 2012
- Summary: SAQUAREMA, BRAZIL (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF BRAZIL'S VOLLEYBALL TRAINING CENTRE GENERAL VIEW OF INTERIOR OF THE GYM WHERE BRAZIL'S WOMEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM TRAINS PLAYERS RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS FROM ONE OF THE COACHES COACH WORKING WITH PLAYERS CLOSE OF VOLLEYBALL WITH PLAYERS TRAINING IN THE BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING CAMERAMEN FILMING TRAINING PLAYERS AROUND COACH, JOSE ROBERTO GUIMARAES VARIOUS OF COACH TALKING TO THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COACH OF BRAZIL WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM, JOSE ROBERTO GUIMARAES, SAYING: "We are going to face good teams in London. I think Brazil won't start off as the favorites. I think at the moment there are two teams in front of us, which are the United States and Italy". PLAYERS GOING THROUGH DRILLS WITH ONE OF THE COACHES MEMBER OF THE COACHING STAFF OBSERVING PLAYERS CLOSE OF PLAYER TRAINING COACH GUIMARAES OBSERVING ONE OF THE PLAYERS PLAYERS TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OUTSIDE HITTER, MARI STEINBRECHER, SAYING: "Brazilian volleyball is the only one in the world that has to win everything. We compete and work very hard to always be on the podium, which I think is important. We fight for the titles, which is the most important, to always be in the finals and that's what we have been doing". PLAYERS TRANING PLAYER TALKING TO COACH GUIMARAES LIBERO FABIANA OLIVEIRA SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LIBERO, FABIANA OLIVEIRA, SAYING: "I hope itthe same as in Beijing, but everything is designed for these Olympics to be very even". CLOSE OF PHOTO ON WALL SHOWING TEAM WINNING GOLD MEDAL AT THE BEIJING OLYMPICS
- Embargoed: 5th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAEIH85ONTJ17WG4XX234Q7CIXH
- Story Text: Four years after Brazilian women's volleyball team won gold in Beijing, the squad is set to face stronger rivals in London and struggle with a tight training agenda ahead of the Games.
Qualifying late for the Olympics was one of many on the list of setbacks that hit the team's spirit in the run-up for London.
Despite the adversities, the group is hoping to replicate their success from four years ago.
In a volleyball-mad nation anything less would be considered a disappointment, but the squad's latest performances have been far from impressive.
Coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes said Brazil was no longer the world's leading superpower in volleyball.
"We are going to face good teams in London. I think Brazil won't start off as the favourites. I think at the moment there are two teams ahead of us, which are the United States and Italy," he said.
But most players are trying to keep their confidence high.
Even though Brazil has lost some key players since Beijing, they claim to be more mature as a team.
Outside hitter Mari Steinbrecher said the squad will fight to be on the podium no matter what.
"Brazilian volleyball is the only one in the world that has to win everything. We compete and work very hard to always be on the podium, which I think is important. We fight for the titles, which is the most important, to always be in the finals, and that's what we have been doing," she said.
On the other hand, Libero Fabiana Oliveira said they were aware that a lot might have changed in the sport over the past four years and that competition will be stiff.
"I hope it's the same ending as it was in Beijing, but everything is designed for these Olympics to be very even," she said.
But in a country so passionate about volleyball no one will want to wait another four years to bring the gold home. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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