Mariafe Artacho del Solar, Taliqua Clancy miss bronze after deflating beach volleyball loss to Switzerland at Paris Olympics
The pain of a bronze medal fade-out may yet drive Australia’s beach volleyball stars to another Olympics as they wrestle with a “haunting” defeat.
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Taliqua Clancy wanted to “bawl my f****ing eyes out’’ after her team’s bronze medal fade-out – but the pain may yet drive them all the way to Los Angeles.
One night earlier, Australia’s star beach volleyball team of Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar briefly eyed a shot at a gold medal when they took a set off the mighty Brazilians.
But the sizzle turned to fizzle against Switzerland in the bronze medal play-off as the Australians had their worst match of the tournament, losing 21-17, 21-15.
This night was always going to be about what was going on inside Australia’s heads after the deflation of giving cheek against Brazil before being mown down.
Could they rise again was the question. The answer was no.
They pocketed a silver in Tokyo so playing for bronze was a step down the ladder. The Swiss duo of Nina Brunner and Tanja Hueberli had more energy and focus.
“It definitely stings, for sure at the moment and probably will for a really long time,’’ Clancy said.
“I’m sure this game will be haunting me but also the positive of that is that it will definitely keep the fire burning.
“I still love the sport and I still love these big moments. That’s the crazy part of what us athletes chase. As much as I hate this feeling and I want to bawl my f***ing eyes out, I know that it’s going to turn into a positive.’’
The Australian duo have been together for six years. If they can get to Los Angeles in 2028 that would mean a decade together.
Artacho del Solar said she may even push on to Brisbane in 2032.
“Never say never,’’ she said.
“I’ve always wanted to make it to five Olympics finishing at home in Brisbane so yeah, I’d love to come back for it. We’ll see what life has in store.’’
Clancy made three service errors in the first set and Australia just looked like a team lacking their razor sharp focus of the night before.
At one point in the second set Australia trailed 19-11 and despite winning the next three points were clearly outclassed despite saving a match point.
The final night of beach volleyball ends a boom fortnight for the sport with the match court played in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower considered one of the best temporary venues the Olympics has seen.
“It was wonderful for the sport,’’ said Australia’s 2000 Sydney gold medallist Nat Cook.
“To see sellouts every night made it very special and the fact that all the television networks were based at the Eiffel Tower meant beach volleyball was often front and centre.’’
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