USA claimed top spot in the men's volleyball tournament at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Lausanne, Switzerland, June 16, 2016 - At the volleyball tournament at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, USA men dethroned 2004 Athens champions Brazil for their first Olympic title in 20 years as their female compatriots surprised many with their own run to the final and but for the world No. 1 Brazilians it would have been a golden sweep for America.
Quick links:Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Men's volleyball tournamentBeijing 2008 Olympic Games - Women's volleyball tournamentBeijing 2008 Olympic Games - Men's beach volleyball tournamentBeijing 2008 Olympic Games - Women's beach volleyball tournamentThe Americans had two non-natives to thank for their success: men's coach Hugh McCutcheon of New Zealand and women's coach "Jenny" Ping Lang, the former Chinese national team player who played and won against USA in 1984, the American women's only previous attempt at gold.
The Brazilian women, meanwhile, had coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes to thank for their omnipotent performance.
"Ze Roberto" became the first coach to lead teams to Olympic gold in both the men's and women's tournaments following his Barcelona 1992 triumph with the Brazil Men's team.
Russia claimed bronze in the men's event, China took bronze in the women's.
This article is one of a series in the run-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the FIVB looks back at previous Olympic volleyball and beach volleyball tournaments.Tokyo 1964 Olympic GamesMexico City 1968 Olympic GamesMunich 1972 Olympic GamesMontreal 1976 Olympic GamesMoscow 1980 Olympic GamesLos Angeles 1984 Olympic GamesSeoul 1988 Olympic GamesBarcelona 1992 Olympic GamesAtlanta 1996 Olympic Games - Beach volleyballAtlanta 1996 Olympic Games - VolleyballSydney 2000 Olympic Games - Beach volleyball
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - Volleyball
Athens 2004 Olympic Games - Beach volleyball
Athens 2004 Olympic Games - VolleyballBeijing 2008 Olympic Games - Beach volleyball