Brink and Reckermann end week in Rome on a high note with victory in men’s bronze medal match
Defending champions Julius Brink (right) and Jonas Reckermann weren't able to retain their 2009 title, but they said that the bronze medal was just as good as gold at the FIVB Swatch World Championships Rome 2011 powered by smart.
Rome, Italy, June 19 – It wasn’t the colour medal that defending champions Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann wanted, but the spirit of their performance in the bronze medal match meant the German pair ended their week at the FIVB Swatch World Championships Rome 2011 powered by smart on a high note.
They once again had to show their belligerent side by recovering from a second set loss to overcome Latvia’s surprise semifinalists Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins.
It was only the second time the teams had met and Plavins and Smedins showed no nerves as they pushed the 2009 champions all the way in a three set match that finished 22-20, 18-21, 15-11.
“We’ve never been a team that has played extraordinary stuff,” Brink said. “That is why I am so proud of the way we fought and that in situations when we are struggling, we actually get closer.
“Even if we have weaknesses we try to work together. I think we showed that on the court and that is what makes me proud.”
After a lacklustre performance in the semifinal loss to Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti the pair were conscious of the need to show their true abilities.
“Playing the World Championships is always something special,” Reckermann said. “We lost the semifinal and normally that might have been more disappointing, but after the semifinal we said, ‘one more win and we will have a medal’.
“We won gold two years ago, but this doesn’t feel worse, we are so happy.”
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