È l'Italia la prima finalista del torneo olimpico di pallavolo. Sotto 2-1 e sull'orlo del baratro, gli Azzurri hanno avuto la forza di rimontare grazie a un grande Zaytsev e hanno finito per battere in rimonta gli Stati Uniti 3-2 in una prima semifinale combattutissima e conclusasi con un 15-9 nell'ultimo set dopo i parziali di 30-28 26-28 9-25 e 25-22.
Nella riedizione della finale di Londra il Brasile si è vendicato della Russia. Trascinati dal pubblico del Maracanazinho, i verdeoro di Bernardinho ha spazzato via campioni uscenti per 3-0 (25-21 25-20 25-17).
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