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Volleyball
Brazil proved they were the best men's volleyball team in the world at Athens, adding a gold medal to the other titles whereas the Chinese women won its first gold medal in 20 years.
Brazil proved they were the best men's volleyball team in the world at the Athens Olympics, adding a gold medal to the other titles they have collected over the past few years.
Twelve years after last winning Olympic gold, the top prize is again in the hands of the Brazilians, whose style of rapid attack and overpowering blocking has made them unbeatable.
With the gold medal win, Brazil deprived Italy of winning the one men's volleyball title it has yet to bag -- that of Olympic champion.
"We were just outplayed. They were just too good," Italy's captain Andrea Giani said after losing the gold medal match 3-1 to world champions Brazil.
Italy took the silver and Sydney silver medallists Russia beat the United States to win the bronze.
Brazil's women did not fare as well as the men.
After winning bronze medals at the last two Olympic Games, the women fell into a slump in 2002 and 2003 and they failed to make it to the medal podium.
China showed it was a force to be reckoned with in women's volleyball by deposing Cuba, gold medallists in the last three Olympics, in the semi-finals and then winning its first gold medal in 20 years.
The young Chinese team, one of the most improved women's squads over the past few years, survived some marathon matches on the road to gold.
After shattering Cuba's dreams of a fourth gold medal, the Chinese women clawed their way back from a two set deficit in the final match to beat Russia.
The Chinese left the Russian women in tears after they won the third and fourth set, then held strong in the tie-break to win gold. Russia had to settle for their second silver in a row.
Cuba beat Brazil 3-1 to take the bronze medal.
Beach volleyball drew huge crowds with its party atmosphere and bikini-clad players, proving its Olympic mettle again with sold-out nights and new converts.
The 12-day competition on the Greek coast outside Athens was a major draw, with the 10,000-seat stadium filled to capacity most nights by foot-stomping, chanting fans revelling in the blaring music and fast-paced action on the sand.
A 12-member "dance team", wearing skimpy orange bikinis by day and shiny silver outfits by night, added to the allure.
"Beach volleyball has been the hit of this Olympics," said US gold medallist Kerri Walsh after she and partner Misty May won the first women's gold for the United States following a perfect competition in which they did not lose a set.
