Joy and gratitude for silver medallists Agatha and Barbara

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 23, 2016 - Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas said a sense of joy and gratitude were the dominant feelings following their silver medal in the women's beach volleyball tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

"To win a medal for Brazil is and will always be a cause for joy," said Barbara. "Of course, an athlete always has a very critical view and always wants to excel and get the best result by applying what has been worked on in training. But to win this medal demanded a lot from us, both as a team and individually. We have to play at a high level and it is a sense of joy, fulfilment, gratitude and accomplishment that we feel." 

"We have to talk about the whole team, people who have given so much, the 11 people who helped us get so far, who feel like family," added Agatha.

Speaking about their achievement, Brazilian beach volleyball delegation head Franco Neto explained that: "Several factors identify Brazil as a power in beach volleyball. Our champions and their achievements at the Olympic Games and World Championships come first. The tropical climate and a great coastline helps. And victories mean we have examples for our younger players. The work of the Brazilian Confederation of Volleyball and of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, the annual U19, U21 and U23 youth competitions and the strongest national circuit in the world: they are a set of factors that makes the country a reference in the sport."


The Olympic rings look on as Germany´s Kira Walkenhorst blocks against Brazil´s Agatha Bednarczuk during the final of the women's beach volleyball tournament in Rio

Agatha and Barbara defeated reigning Olympic champion Kerri Walsh Jennings and her partner April Ross in the semifinals but lost to Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany in the final of the women's beach volleyball tournament on Wednesday. Read what happened here.

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