With Team USA having won the bronze medal match yesterday, the host nation took on Poland in the final on Saturday 10 August.

Les Bleus were made to work for their gold as it seemed as if Poland could swing it when they saved four match points to give themselves one more shot. A service error then gave France a 25-23 set win to take the match (25-19 25-20 25-23) with the total score adding up to 75-62 in front of a jubilant crowd.

France successfully defended the gold they won in Tokyo three years ago, becoming the first back-to-back Olympic champions in men's volleyball since the USA in 1988.

Brazil's women finally took bronze with a 3-1 win over Turkey in an intense match in which they demonstrated their agility and coordination. They dominated in all but the third set and by the fourth the gap was already ten points.

It is the sixth medal for Brazilian women's volleyball. The Brazilian team missed out on the chance to go for gold after losing to the United States 3-2 in semi-final play, an opponent they know all too well. At Tokyo 2020, Brazil took silver after losing to the US team, but they have also been champions in two editions (Beijing 2008 and London 2012).

USA clinch bronze in thrilling men's third-place match

The US men's volleyball team secured the bronze medal on Friday 9 August with a decisive 3-0 victory over Italy. This marks the sixth medal in the history of the American men's team and their third bronze. They previously claimed gold in 1984, 1988, and 2008.

“It's better than nothing,” Us men’s volleyball star Matt Anderson said after losing to Poland in the semifinals ahead of the encounter. “A bronze medal is something that's still really proud to have, still really proud to win. It's a medal that you're winning because you have to win that last match to get it, and I don't want to leave with nothing.”

The American men’s volleyball team is bringing home bronze from the Paris Olympics, triumphing over Italy in a thrilling, back-and-forth battle on Friday. The match ended with set scores of 25-23, 30-28, a dramatic second set in which both teams had multiple opportunities, and 26-24, in a raucous South Paris Arena.

When Torey DeFalco scored the final point, veteran libero Erik Shoji threw his arms up in triumph while other teammates dropped to their knees in celebration. After shaking hands with the Italian team, the US players shared heartfelt hugs with their coaches and support staff.

The showdown between No. 4 Italy and the fifth-ranked US certainly lived up to expectations. Italy, facing match point, managed to tie the third set at 24 in an extended rally where both sides made incredible plays to keep the game alive. However, following a service error by Italy, the Americans seized their next opportunity to clinch the victory. Both teams were competing for their first medal in eight years. The Americans last won bronze at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, while Italy fell to Brazil in the championship match.

The Americans had to quickly recover from the sting of a five-set defeat to No. 1 Poland just two days prior. This redemption was long overdue, especially after they failed to advance past the group stage in Tokyo three years ago. Despite being one of the youngest teams in Brazil, several US players chose to return for another chance after their disappointing early exit in Japan.

In the opening set, Italy led 21-20, and the US required two set points to secure the win after initially being up 24-22. The Americans were ahead 20-17 in the second set before Italy mounted a comeback to take a 21-20 lead. Italy briefly led 24-23, but Roberto Russo’s serve went long, and Taylor Averill then missed his serve as well.

The Americans claimed gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finished fifth in London, and then took bronze in Rio. Anderson and Smith led a seasoned squad on the Olympic stage. 

As for whether Anderson might aim for another Olympics run in Los Angeles four years from now at age 41, “we’ll see” were his words.