"Team spirit, key athletes and great staff," said Stanley after USA's 3-1 victory over Brazil in Sunday's final.

The emerging Stanley gave more than a hint to the atmosphere in the USA camp when he talked of his future.

"My future is here in the sport," said Stanley. "I love Volleyball and I'll be here until I can't be here anymore. They (the USA team) are the greatest team and friends I could ever have."

USA followed up golds in the 1984 Los Angeles Games and 1988 Seoul Games to equal USSR, who won gold in 1964, 1968 and 1980.  Brazil are the third best country at the Olympics after winning gold in 1992 in Barcelona and four years ago in Athens.

USA's Scott Touzinsky gave credit to Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon for the victory.

"I can't be happier, he's a great coach and he's a father figure to the whole team," said Touzinsky. "Ever since I met him he's been balanced - never too high or too low. He sets team and family life apart. When he's on the court, he's with us 100 per cent."

On a sad day for the Brazil team, Gustavo Endres played his last game.

"Yesterday, Giba hugged me and cried," said Gustavo Endres. "Today I played my last match. I will miss all this. Volleyball made me grow as a person and as an athlete and I can only thank this sport for doing that to me.

"Everyone here offers themselves to the team. I was also a giver to the Brazilian team and that's how I want to be remembered."

 USA's William Priddy said he hoped USA can take the mantle from Brazil and become the dominant force in world Volleyball once again after their reign in the 1980s.

"I think a couple of things are happening that weren't happening before," said Priddy. "People are staying longer in the team so now the team is stronger. A group of guys, maybe 25, have embraced this life of Volleyball so the longer we stick together the better it is for us and in the past we had that against us in other teams."

FIVB-ranked best players:
MVP: Clayton Stanley (USA)
Best scorer: Clayton Stanley (USA)
Best spiker: Sebastian Swiderski (POL)
Best blocker: Gustavo Endres (BRA)
Best server: Clayton Stanley (USA)
Best digger: Alexey Verbov (RUS)
Best setter: Pawel Zagumny (POL)
Best receiver: Michal Winiarski (POL)
Best libero: Mirko Corsano (ITA)

Olympic Gold medals - Men's Volleyball:
# NOC First Gold Last Gold Appearance
3 URS  1964        1980        6
3 USA  1984        2008        9
2 BRA  1992        2004        12
1 SRB  2000                        5
1 NED  1996                        6
1 POL  1976                        7
1 JPN  1972                         8