In a thrilling encounter at the South Paris Arena 1, the United States clinched the bronze medal in men’s volleyball by defeating Italy 3-0 (25-23, 30-28, 26-24). Both teams, having suffered tough semifinal defeats, displayed renewed vigor, but it was the Americans who excelled in crucial moments to secure third place.
The match was marked by standout performances from several U.S. players, including Aaron Russell, who led with 15 points, and TJ Defalco and Max Holt, who contributed 12 and 11 points respectively. This victory allowed seven American players to add a second Olympic medal to their collection, having also competed in Rio 2016.
The Paris Games also signified a potential end of an era for the U.S. team, with several veteran players, including 39-year-old David Smith and 37-year-olds Matt Anderson and Max Holt, expected to retire from international competition.
On the Italian side, Yuri Romanò and Alessandro Michieletto each scored 17 points but could not prevent their team from finishing fourth.
