The women’s volleyball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be one of the most competitive and captivating events. Nearly half of the participating teams are eyeing the gold medal, with several others capable of making surprising runs to the finals.
Key Highlights:
- Pool A Showdown: Olympic champions USA, world champions Serbia, and powerhouse China will battle for the top spots, with hosts France aiming for an upset.
- USA’s Strong Return: The Tokyo Olympic champions, led by coach Karch Kiraly, return with a core of eight players from their gold-winning squad.
- Serbia’s Medal Hunt: Serbia, with the stellar duo of Maja Ognjenović and Tijana Bošković, seeks their first Olympic gold after consecutive medals in previous Games.
- China’s Star Power: Led by Zhu Ting and coach Cai Bin, China looks formidable, aiming to build on their recent successes in the VNL and Asian Games.
Pool B and C Contenders:
- Brazil and Poland Lead Pool B: Brazil, driven by Gabriela Guimaraes, and Poland, led by Magdalena Stysiak, Joanna Wolosz and coach Stefano Lavarini, are strong medal contenders. Japan also poses a significant threat.
- Italy and Turkey in Pool C: Italy, led by legendary coach Julio Velasco and star player Paola Egonu, and Turkey, coached by Danielle Santarelli, led by Melissa Vargas and Ebrar Karakurt, aim for the top podium. The Netherlands and the Dominican Republic also look to make an impact.
The stage is set for potentially the most exciting women’s volleyball tournament in Olympic history, with fierce competition and high stakes from the opening match.
The 12 teams are divided into three pools:
- Pool A: France, USA, China, Serbia
- Pool B: Brazil, Poland, Japan, Kenya
- Pool C: Italy, Türkiye, Netherlands, Dominican Republic
The tournament will feature a format with three round-robin pools of four. The top teams from each pool, the runners-up, and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals, leading to the semifinals and medal matches.
The matches will be held at the South Paris Arena from July 27 to August 11, where the 16th Olympic volleyball champions will be crowned.