Rio Grand Slam 2016 | 8 - 13 mars 2016 |
#RioGS |
Press release
Agatha and Barbara trying to keep calm despite Olympic dreams
Barbara (left) and Agatha are aiming for more celebrations at Rio 2016
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2016 - Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas will be among the leading sides at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, but the pair are trying their hardest to keep their expectancy levels low.
The Brazilian pair go into Rio 2016 as world champions having won gold at the Netherlands 2015, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships and a week ago they beat Brazil’s other team Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes to win the Super Praia title as Brazil’s national tour came to a close.
“The most pressure comes from ourselves,†Agatha said. “That is the important thing and we want to win more than anything else or anyone else. This internal pressure could push us to the title, which is a life-long dream.â€
Rio 2016 will be both Agatha and Barbara’s first taste of an Olympic Games and both players are working hard on their physical and mental preparation to ensure that they are fully prepared for their Olympic bow, in front of 10,000 fans at Copacabana Beach.
By contrast Larissa and Talita both played at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games where Larissa won bronze alongside Juliana Felisberta.
Brazil’s women played out the first ever Olympic final at Atlanta 1996 when Sandra Pires and Jackie Silva beat Monica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel.
At the Netherlands 2015 Agatha and Barbara beat compatriots Taiana Lima and Fernanda Alves, so they know what an all-Brazil final is like.
“I really never played Olympics and that's why we have to be very well prepared and aware of what to do,†Barbara said. “We can only control our actions and nothing else, then we have to play as well as we can.
“We’ll have to wait and see if Brazil can finish first and second.â€
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