Poland’s Aleksandr Sliwka (11) leaves the court after losing the men’s volleyball gold medal match against France at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
PARIS — France defended its Olympic gold medal in men’s volleyball on Saturday, and how special it was to do it on home soil with a rapturous, standing-room-only crowd providing assistance at every turn.
South Paris Arena quickly became party central as a dejected Polish team sat back and watched their victorious opponents dance all over the court.
Tricolour-waving fans roared and the stands shook with every brilliant rally, leaping block, powerful spike and service ace as the team defeated world number one Poland in straight sets.
Read: U.S. team wins volleyball bronze medal at Paris Olympics
The French player, ranked second in the world, won 25-19, 25-20, 25-23 to reach the top of the Olympic podium for the second consecutive year.
They were led by some hard hitting from Jean Patry, who scored a match-high 17 points, as well as some great service games from the team that led to eight aces (four in the second set) and sheer hustle play.
Ervin Ngapes dropped to the floor multiple times to save the ball and keep the rally going, before blindly scoring over his head with his face turned away from the net.
The French team celebrates after winning the gold medal against Poland during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games men’s volleyball match in Paris, France, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Patry converted eight of his first nine chances while Barthelemy Sinenyeze converted six of six on attack, with him and Ngapes each scoring eight points.
Poland is reaching its first Olympic final in 48 years, since winning the gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Read: Poland defeats USA in men’s volleyball semifinals
The French team, buoyed by the enthusiasm of the crowd, led 16-11 in the first set and kept pushing. They had learned the hard way about falling behind and were not going to take any chances with the gold medal on the line. France had to come back from a two-set deficit to Germany in the quarterfinals to have a chance to defend their title.
Poland coach Nikola Grbic was keen to win this gold medal for his veteran team, with veterans such as 34-year-old Paweł Zatorski, 36-year-old Grzegorz Romac and soon-to-be 36-year-old Bartosz Kulek likely competing in their final Olympics.
Veteran Poland libero Zatorski was not about to miss this opportunity under the Olympic lights, despite being down for several minutes after injuring her left shoulder in a collision with a teammate during Wednesday’s come-from-behind five-set win over the United States.
Zatorski lost feeling in the fingers of his left hand after the semifinal match, and after the loss he stood on the other side of the net, watching the French players wave and bounce to the music before the medal ceremony.
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The U.S. men’s team beat Italy on Friday to win the bronze medal, while the U.S. women’s team will face Italy on Sunday to defend their title in Tokyo.
Check out Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
