From 2002, when we formed the duo, to 2004
we adapted on being a strong duo feared by our opponents.
We arrived in Athens as number one
The last game was against a Spanish duo.
In my opinion they weren’t one of the favourites to be in the final
but during the whole Olympics they played very well.
They showed strength in the decisive moments. Won against good teams.
And arrived to the final… with everything to win.
Our strategy in the beginning was Emanuel serving.
That was the differential in that first set.
I believe that the Spanish duo wasn’t expecting us to be so strong.
And impose a different rhythm from the last time we played against them.
To me it was the first time I was playing in an Olympic final.
Ricardo already had played an Olympic final in Sydney, Australia in 2000.
So, in my vision
What I wanted was to have control of the game as quick as possible.
Myself and Ricardo played the best way possible that day.
Ricardo was able to block a lot of balls.
I was able to serve so well. I was very confident on my serves.
In this final you were incredible. You were turning all the balls.
It was so easy for you to play.
I still remember how many times you were training that move on the day.
Every day
I think I trained six to seven times with Cajaba to catch the ball from the front.
Look how high the ball which you finished the set goes.
It goes high into the air.
When I sat on the bench after the first set had finished
that was when I could hear the supporters, loads of people screaming “Brazil, Brazil, Brazil".
During the first set I didn’t hear a thing
in my mind it was as if the stadium was empty.
In Beach Volleyball, the team that opens some advantage is the team that ends up owning the game.
I felt that the Spanish duo were trying to change strategy all the time.
And that was something very interesting in the second set.
We maintained our rhythm, the same serve, same block, same turning of ball.
There was a moment in the end of the set
when we scored the nineteenth point, and was actually an easy point
Ricardo said “No wait, it’s not finished yet”.
With the conscience of our team, and knowing that in an Olympic final anything could happen
he told me “Wait, we still need 2 points”.
I move smoothly, get the ball up, you let it fall…
and all our dreams come true.
It feels like it was yesterday… this game.
Exactly.
The feeling of the last point and pretty much the five minutes after that…
I remember well that I hugged Ricardo. We started half crying, half smiling. It was a mix of emotions.
That made us re-call all that we went through in the last two years before that final.
We got an Olympic gold medal, and in that moment I felt…
gratitude
I told him, thank you, you helped me to be an Olympic champion.
I think it was a very big change for our sport in our country.
The first gold medal for the men’s
and I remember when I went back, that a lot of people experienced the moment.
In that moment the Brazilian National Anthem
immortalised in my memory as the top moment as my career.
The moment I could do anything.
And even nowadays, every time I hear the National Anthem I still remember the Olympic podium.