Simone Giannelli (far right) lost the match for third place with Italy. © APA/afp / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA

Huge disappointment: Giannelli misses Olympic bronze

Italy's men's national volleyball team also lost the match for third place at the Olympics in Paris. This means that South Tyrol will not win a medal at these games.

August 09, 2024

From: dl

Just a few days before the Olympics, South Tyrol's hopes of winning two Olympic medals in Paris were high. But after Jannik Sinner withdrew due to illness, hopes rested solely on Simone Giannelli. The Bozen native played a strong group phase with Italy, but then things went wrong. On Friday, Giannelli & Co. lost the bronze medal match against the USA 0:3 (23:25, 28:30, 24:26).

Italy, like in the 0-3 semi-final against France, never got up to speed. The USA seemed much more lively and willing to win bronze. Perhaps Italy's disappointment after missing the final was just too great. But that alone cannot explain their misery. The Azzurri's body language alone was simply not good enough on Friday to win an Olympic medal. They also lacked courage.

The USA deservedly took bronze. © APA/afp / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA

Giannelli missed out on his second Olympic medal after the silver in Rio in 2016. On his 28th birthday, of all days, the captain was unable to control the Italians' game as skillfully as usual. The attackers Yuri Romanó and Alessandro Michieletto also fell far short of their potential. The experienced USA took full advantage of Italy's mental weakness and deservedly won bronze.

2028 as a last resort?

There is one positive note about the Olympics, however: Italy fielded the youngest volleyball team at these games. The Azzurri could therefore make a new attempt in Los Angeles in 2028. For Giannelli, who will be 32 by then, it will probably be the last chance to win Olympic gold. Otherwise, the best setter in the world has won everything. But Italy can still win gold in volleyball in Paris. On Sunday (13 p.m.) the women will play their final against the USA.