Brazil's gold medal celebration irks volleyball players
Celebrations and proper sportsmanship have been an issue throughout the London Olympics.
The US women's soccer team was called out by New Zealand for its celebratory methods, and the squad drew criticism after its win over Japan. Now it's the US complaining about the celebration methods of another country.
The US women's volleyball team blew a lead and lost the gold medal game to Brazil on Saturday. The favored Americans thumped Brazil 25-11 in the first set, but lost the next three sets 25-17, 25-20, and 25-17.
The Brazilian players were overcome with joy and some fell to the ground after winning. They jumped around in circles, cried, and exchanged the customary handshakes and kisses with the US players. But it didn't take long for things to get out of hand.
After the team held hands in a circle of prayer, the players lined up and did several somersaults (pictured above), even rolling into the US players who were walking off Earl's Court.
Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the celebratory songs and clapping continued in the waiting area. The Brazilian players then danced their way back onto the court to receive their medals, though to be fair, they were playing to their legions of fans in attendance. But once they, the US, and Japanese players were all lined up for their medals, the Brazilians continued to dance.
In the image below, you can see the US and Japanese players standing straight while the Brazilian players (in yellow) gyrated in the middle:
Some of the American players were irked by the excessive celebration from the Brazilians.
"A lot of them are my friends,” four-time Olympian Logan Tom said, according to FOX Sports' Reid Forgrave. "They celebrate a little differently than Americans do. I let it slide. I did tell them, 'Get your asses down from the podium (when the silver and bronze medals were being awarded).' It’s just a little respect sort of thing. But like I said, it’s their culture. They celebrate how they want to celebrate. I’m all for that."
"If we had won, maybe we wouldn't have jumped around as much, but we would have celebrated," Danielle Scott-Aruda told Yahoo! Sports. "But you know, it's culture. So congratulations to them."
Coach Hugh McCutcheon said he had no issue with the Brazilians' celebration, saying, "If that's the way they choose to [celebrate], I've got no issue with that."
Maybe the truth is many people don't think about whose feelings they're hurting if they're the ones celebrating such a tremendous accomplishment. Perhaps it's not such a bad thing to be on the losing end. One, it teaches athletes the importance of sportsmanship. Two, it creates bitter feelings that frequently serve as future motivation.
As far as the Brazilian volleyball team's behavior goes, there's only one thing I know: McKayla Maroney definitely would not have been impressed. Derrick Rose wouldn't have been, either.
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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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you are just another who can't read. wonder why when an american does this type of celebrating it is so blown out but another country athlete does this and no big deal. in fact u try to turn it around on our athletes when what i read they not have that big a problem with it.
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Nigol66, you should read the ARTICLE instead of just reading the title, my friend.
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didn't sound like the u.s. team nor the coach was bitchin, it was the yahoo writer making all the noise about the way they did it. therefore it looks like nnigol66 needs to learn to read.
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agree
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sore losers. USA should be more irked by how they choked.
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We are irked. We are irked that we didn't win more than the 103 medals that we did and we are irked that we are STILL the best country in the world and every other country hates us for it. Chew on that.
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Well said!
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its always the reporters making or starting the noise.
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Seems as though it's only the reporter who wrote this lame story who is bothered by it. The title of the article says "Brazil's Gold Medal Celebration Irks Volleyball Players," but then there is NOTHING in the article to indicate that this is true. In fact, the quotes offered from players seem to indicate that they really didn't care very much at all and were only answering the questions because they had been asked.
Whoever wrote this article should be ashamed of him or herself. -
celebrating is fine as long as taunting and disrespect is not involved.
hey, serena did her dance (and got slammed).
if celebratory behavior put someone else's safety at risk, it is over celebration and inconsiderate (rolling into people as they were leaving the court).
there should be a certain amount of decorum and restraint during awards ceremonies also.
poor behavior on the podium is disrespect to one's own flag and country.
if this is not in the olympic regulation it should be added. -
Different countries have different customs of celebrating after a victory. However, like Logan Tom said, when you get up on the awards stand at the Olympics, the Gold Medallist should show more respect to the Silver and Bronze Medallists. This just shows good sportsmanship. No one likes a sore loser, but no one likes a concieted winner, either.
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I don't have a problem with anything Brazil did short of their behavior on or around the podium. Tom spoke up at that point to let them know they were out of line. At that point, it's about being respectful, stepping up on the podium when it's your turn to get your medals, accepting them, and everyone respecting the winner's anthem. Afterwards, you wave to the crowd, and walk off. Then the celebration can continue.
I think the US team WAS irked by the constant celebrating, and reporters on the scene could probably see this plainly. No one enjoys watching the celebration of someone that just beat them. In some sports you have to. Their comments were classy, and they understand that the winner is going to do some jumping around. The Brazilians were a little extra, but to the victor go the spoils. As the article says, just use it for 2016 fuel, and make it your goal to beat them on their own soil. -
Soooo, after reading the entire article and all feedback from competing coaches, the consensus is that this article is just another olympoic sized piece of crap, from a journalist with nothing better to do. Internet morons love oversensationalized junk. Well they got it.
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U know serena does a crip dance, originating from low life scum gangbangers and she is justified and rationalized by the masses. Brazil does some non gang-related celebration and Americans complain. We got if F***ed up in this country when we stand behind a hood rat that does a crip dance while representing this great country; yet we get mad when another country does a bunch of frivolous antics. Wow. No wonder neighborhoods are imploding in America - we got our priorities messed up.
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I guess you like to criticize and always see the world through "convienient" lenses. Brazil was not just turned into the "granary" of the world. Our place in the modern capitalism is to be out of place. There is no education, health, transport, security, and it only gets worse - because it is interesting for "more powerful" nations that it remains so.
I'm sorry to say, but this WILL eventually have consequences, a display like the one you saw at the olympic final match can be considered a lesser one. You might say "why should we be held responsible?"... the answer is simple. Dooming entire nations to a lesser condition is a PERVERSE kind of progress, and the "american way of life" is built upon exactly that.Some references you may enjoy: Robert Schwarz, Lukacs, Carl Marx.
Take pride on your 103 medals if you wish; I despise them, but not because I hate USA for being great at sports. I despise them because I see no value in building your own momentum over other nations' misery.
