Displaying the form, focus and talent that has made them the most feared team in women’s beach volleyball, Brazil’s six-time FIVB SWATCH World Tour champions and 2011 FIVB SWATCH World Champions Juliana/Larissa overpowered Mauritius‘ 24th-seeded Elodie Li Yuk Lo/Natacha Rigobert in straight sets, 21-5, 21-10 in 30 minutes.
Looking at the men’s side in session two, the host-country fans were disappointed by Canada’s 19th-seeded Josh Binstock/Martin Reader two-set 21-19, 21-13 victory over Great Britain’s sixth-seeded John Garcia-Thompson/Steve Grotowski, although Canada did have a few thousdand fans in the packed stadium
In her first Olympic Games after missing in 2008 after qualifying with Larissa, but injuring her knee, Juliana said after her match, “It was great. I played well and I didn’t worry about our opponents. We treat every match as if it is the final. In our next pool play match on Monday we play Germany and they are tough opponents, but we don’t think our worry about our opponents. I’m so excited to be here in my first Olympic Games, my heart was a little wiggly when I went out to the court with all those people there and remember that this is the Olympics. My eyes watered a little because of my injury in 2008. I have come back and I am a new player, a different person and I am looking forward to this entire experience .”
