Skip to main content
12221
Back to International Paralympic Committee homepage Go to
Contrast:
High Contrast
Normal Contrast
Enlargement:
Larger Font Size
Default Font Size
Smaller Font Size
    • Home
    • News
    • Athletes
    • Schedule/Results
    • Tickets
    • Countries
    • Samsung Bloggers
    • Fan Zone
    • Watch
    • Sports
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram

    Sitting volleyball: Five things we learned from Rio 2016

    07.10.2016

    What did we find out from the US women taking their first Paralympic gold and the Iranian men re-claiming their gold?

    Morteza Mehrzadselakjani IRI stretches to play the ball Morteza Mehrzadselakjani OF iRAN stretches to play the ball in the Men's Gold Medal Match at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. © • Simon Bruty for OIS/IOC
    By IPC
    Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker
    Related News
    USA golden in sitting volleyball final against China!
    Iran seize back Paralympic title on day of high emotion
    Rio 2016 in numbers

    For sitting volleyball at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, there were no clear favourites for the men and women’s titles. The US women had only beaten China in a major event earlier this year, and it was unclear if the USA could replicate that success on the Paralympic level. For the men’s side, both Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been back-and-forth in major international competitions and were sure to field the strongest lineups.

    But after Rio 2016, here are five takeaways:

    1. US women confirm their status

    China had won every Paralympic title since the women’s competition was added to the programme for Athens 2004. Each time China faced the USA in the finals. But this time the USA finally triumphed, and in dominating fashion to take their first Paralympic gold medal 3-0. The USA defeated China earlier in the year at the Intercontinental Championships, which was the first time they defeated their rivals in a major World ParaVolley event. But China had defeated the USA during the Paralympic preliminary rounds.

    The USA’s bigs in Katie Holloway and Monique Burkland proved too much for the smaller Chinese team in the finals, and 23-year-old Bethany Zummo broke through as a rising libero who can take the USA farther in the coming years.

    2. Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s rivalry is still alive

    Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina met for the fifth straight Paralympic final in the men’s competition, and each year, they have traded the gold medal. The final only showcased the strength of both programmes. However, what probably seemed to lift Iran over the top was the tallest man at the Paralympic Games in Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, who accounted for 28 of Iran’s 96 points. He was just one of four Iranians who scored in double figures, as Iran had plenty momentum in their 3-1 victory. Unknown however is if both teams will have the same calibre players for Tokyo 2020.

    3. Egypt must not be underestimated

    The Brazilian men were expected to medal in their home games, but the electric crowd was not enough to lift them over African champions Egypt in a five-set thriller. The bronze medal match could have gone either way, but it was Egypt, led by Hesham Elshwikh, who came through. It was Egypt’s first medal since Athens 2004, when they also took bronze.

    4. Brazil hungrier for more

    The Brazilian men could not achieve their first ever Paralympic medal. The women’s side on the other hand were victorious in capturing their nation’s first medal in the sport with a 3-0 victory over Ukraine. With one coming close to a medal, and another tasting success in front of their home crowd, Brazil’s sitting volleyball programme can only build from there.

    5. Ukrainian women on the rise

    The Ukrainian women’s team showed their potential in Rio. After taking gold in the 2015 European Championships, then reaching the bronze medal match, Ukraine can take confidence from those successes.

    • Tweet
      • print
      • send
    LATEST NEWS
    Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation 05.08.2019 Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation
    Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude 05.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude
    Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day 04.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day
    Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way 03.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way
    Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month 02.08.2019 Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month
    More news...following the link
    Worldwide Paralympic Partners
    Go to Atos partner page
    Go to Bridgestone partner page
    Go to OttoBock partner page
    Go to Panasonic partner page
    Go to Samsung partner page
    Go to Toyota partner page
    Go to Visa partner page
    International Partners
    Go to Allianz partner page
    Go to BP partner page
    Go to Citi partner page
    • FAQ
    • Privacy
    • Imprint
    • Jobs
    Powered by Go to Atos. Worldwide IPC partner page
    The Paralympic Games
    Summer Games
    Winter Games
    Sochi 2014
    Rio 2016
    All the results & medallist since 1960
    Games video archive
    About the IPC
    Who we are
    Anti-Doping
    Medical
    Partners
    IPC Strategic Plan 2015-2018
    IPC Handbook
    Publications and Documents
    Media Centre
    News
    Features & Interviews
    The Paralympian
    Videos
    Athlete of the Month
    Media Office
    Sports
    Summer Sports
    Winter Sports
    Biographies
    NPCS
    Africa
    America
    Asia
    Europe
    Oceania
    Go to International Paralympic Committee homepage
    Official Website of the Paralympic Movement • IPC
    Homepage
    Paralympic Games
    The IPC
    Results, Ranking & Records
    Media Centre
    Videos
    Sports
    International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
    Adenauerallee 212-214, 53113 Bonn, Germany
    Telephone: +49-228-2097-200 • Fax: +49-228-2097-209 • E-mail: [email protected]
    04:00:53