Rio de Janeiro, August 6, 2016 – USA’s Jacob Gibb and Casey Patterson began their Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games campaign by beating Qatar’s Jefferson Pereira and Cherif Younousse Hermannova 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) victory at the Copacabana Beach Arena on Saturday.
Here’s what they said after the match….
Jacob Gibb, USA
“It was fun. That is exactly what it was. Sometimes I think you forget that this game is fun and you’re just grinding out there and you forget about it, but that was fun out there.
“It was interesting, I even had fun in my warm-up and I don’t usually have fun in my warm-ups. When you’re 40-years-old you start to enjoy things and I’m enjoying every moment with this kid.
“It is pretty cool playing beach volleyball in Brazil, but just because we are having fun doesn’t mean we aren’t taking it seriously.”
Casey Patterson, USA
“He provides a lot of stability for me and right before we went out he gave me a little pep talk and we both got a little emotional, but then we got it out of the way and that was all we needed.
“For me a big part of my style is emotion, so coming from him as well is big.
“There’s been a lot of waiting around. I feel like we’ve been here a month already. I’m a guy who likes to play and hurry and go and I’ve learned to pace myself and that is something he’s taught me. I’m pleased it’s my first Olympics and to be able to come out with a controlled, patient win, I’m learning and I love it.”
Cherif Younousse, Qatar
“I am so proud for me and I am very happy to play the Olympics and be the youngest player in the men’s (tournament).
“It is so different, the court is so huge and we got lost at the beginning of the first sets as we were playing against two very experienced guys and now we know we are in the competition.
“After we won the Continental Cup I just thought about it. I just need to use the experience and just enjoy it.”