2024 Paris Olympic Games

    maybe depends on her health 😝

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

    Quote from Jules

    Great news

    wow now we have proof that money can't buy tradition nor being a powerhouse

    Congratulations brazil

    I get disliking the Turkish NT and wanting them to lose if you think they have an unfair advantage, fair enough. But the Turkish users have been mostly respectful through this tournament, let’s try to stay reasonable and not let the forum devolve into more useless bickering.

    For me Turkiye did amazing with all the injuries they had. They have so much potential plus the youngsters to be better for next cycle. They will be another medal contender come LA 2028.


    But it is heartbreaking knowing the possibility of Eda might be retiring without an Olympic medal.

    Quote from Jules

    Great news

    wow now we have proof that money can't buy tradition nor being a powerhouse

    Congratulations brazil


    His name is Cengiz Göllü, look him up.

    Let's not act like Turkish volleyball started with Vargas or Santarelli... Sure the addition made Turkey a stronger team after Neslihan retired, to try to fill her shoes but it has a tradition that led to 2003. Sure, not a history that is as shiny as Brazil's or whatnot but a history and tradition nonetheless. A history that had a lot of troubles and struggle. Am I upset that TVF was not organized enough to raise its own competitive OPP, yes! But I'm also happy for Vargas and Turkey for making a synergy at such short notice. Am I happy Turkey stole Santa from Serbia, not too much. But it was his own decision to come to Turkey. For money? Probably yes, but his own decision. Am I happy Gui is gone? Hell yes! He did so much but his time was up for numerous reasons. I should also add M. Akif Üstündağ (TVF president) and his doings: he irritates me a lot for a lot of reasons but I believe he mostly means well and a little gullible even. I'm writing those because after these two additions (Vargas and Santa) to the team I feel like there is even more toxicity on the forum than before which led me to not come here for so long. Anyways greetings to everyone who are still in the forum o/ I hope everyone is well.
    Congrats to Brazil, they were the better team on the court yesterday. I'm happy for them especially Thaisa but extremely sorry for our girls as well. Brazil always seems as fiercely carrying the olympic spirit for me whereas our girls but also Santa seemed quite nervous to me.

    Random Thoughts before the finals:

    My First Six: Avery Skinner (USA), Sylla (ITA), Poulter (USA), Thaisa(BRA), Danesi(ITA), Egonu(ITA), De Gennaro (ITA)*

    Best Game: CHN vs USA (Prelims), CHN vs TUR (Quarters), BRA vs USA (Semis)

    Most Disappointing Player: Iwasaki(JPN), Karakurt(TUR), Stysiak(POL), Ishikawa (JPN)
    Most Disappointing Team: TUR, CHN, SRB, JPN

    My Final Prediction: ITA in Five Sets lol. This feels like a good game lol.

    = not that I thought Japan will Medal but there is no fight in them sadly.
    = Turkey peaked too early (2023) AND sadly Santarelli just focused too hard on offense when only Vargas is giving. So they were a mess of a team regardless of final position.

    = CHN feels like the only true team I felt should have been in the Semis. No shade to TUR but CHN feels more competitive and full. CHN has defense and all-around offense that all the top 4 team had but they failed to capitalize against TUR.

    = SRB just is a mess this OG.

    most disappointing for me is kelsey cook! 😕 how many times she played with the NT, has she been ever a starter since she started with the NT in major tournaments. Backup to Kim Hill, MBH and Larson and now avery and plummer. She played good in club but also because that team was also a powerhouse team with amazing top players.

    Quote from litolapid

    CHN feels like the only true team I felt should have been in the Semis. No shade to TUR but CHN feels more competitive and full. CHN has defense and all-around offense that all the top 4 team had but they failed to capitalize against TUR.

    good on Vargas for delivering when it mattered but that was such a sad result

    Missed the game yesterday but reading all your comments here I feel I got quite a good picture of how the match went :lol: congrats to Brazil for their bronze, and Türkiye still making it so far after that awful start in group phase. They showed a lot of fighting spirit to make it to semis.


    Now lets hope the final will be a reverse of the men's bronze medal match, and Italy may win :box:

    Quote from Kostlich

    most disappointing for me is kelsey cook! 😕 how many times she played with the NT, has she been ever a starter since she started with the NT in major tournaments. Backup to Kim Hill, MBH and Larson and now avery and plummer. She played good in club but also because that team was also a powerhouse team with amazing top players.

    Never at the OG but she was a starting OH at the 2022 WCH and of course the main libero at the 2018 WCH.

    I really dont see a clear favourite for this Olympic final match. For me, after watching so many Olympics, I honestly think that usually (almost always), the final is a chapter that start from 0, a completely new story of what happened before. I remember Athens 2004, when CHN swept RUS 3x0 in the preliminary rounds, but then the Asians were only 2 points away to lose the gold medal match. In Rio, CHN took revenge of almost every single team after the first round, etc, etc.


    I would slightly give the advantage to the USA team, especially for the mental strength factor. Most of their players already know what does it mean to play an Olympic final, their captain, even though she could be in the bench all match long, has been in three. That's a plus, especially in the tense moments. For the Italian team, a medal is already historic and as someone already wrote here, lets see if that "conformism" doesnt kill them. Sure, it isnt conformism, but I dont know how to explain the fact that they could think they already achieved the goal, so the determination wont be there or they could give up faster than under other circunstances. It happens in sport. Nevertheless, Velasco is there to wake them up.


    I just hope to watch an epic final match. It is as half entertaining than Athens 2004 or Sydney 2000, I would be more than satisfied. Last time a gold medal match ended in 5 sets was 20 years ago :white: Rooting for a new one :super:

    I hope USA give their all today! Nobody including me saw them medaling this Olympics, so I’m very happy they reached the final.. Italy are clear favorites and have been great these whole Olympics.. however I still hope USA can turn it around and win the gold of course.. Avery and Annie have been great, and I hope they continue that today. Plummer was crucial last game, and today she needs so deliver once again. She can also slow Egonu down, not only in terms of kill blocks, but give her something to think about.. USA need to serve strong and try to break Italy’s reception (Sylla)