2000 Olympics Semifinal Match: Cuba vs Brazil
One of the best Olympic matches our generation has ever seen!
After winning the 2000 World Grand Prix, Cuba was the top favorite to win the gold medal in Sydney – no doubt. The great Regla Torres skipped the 1999 season and Cuba became even more unstoppable when she returned just in time to for the Olympics.
Yumilka Ruiz became more confident with her game and started to become more reliable as the successor of the Mireya Luis who didn’t get a lot of playtime in Sydney but acted the other coach throughout the tournament. Cuba also got the screaming lefty Regla Bell, the world’s best spiker Anna Fernandez, the talented and the MVP of the 1999 World Cup Taimarys Aguero and the underrated Costa. Cuba didn’t have a libero in 2000 but their second stringers were composed of Mirka Francia aka the Best Blocker from the 1999 World Cup, the quiet Izquierdo, Zoila Barros, Idalmis Gato and Martha Sanchez. The only missing star was Magalys Carvajal.
With a very talented and very athletic roster, we thought Cuba would win this match easily over Brazil.
We really thought Ana Moser would give her a quest for an Olympic gold another try but she was not physically capable anymore. After winning a bronze medal at the 1999 World Cup, Moser announced her retirement from the National Team and gave her a spot to the young Erika Coimbra who made her national debut at the 1998 World Championship. In 2000, Erika became the crowd favorite at the Final Round of the Grand Prix held in the Philippines. With her powerful arm swing and deadly jump serves, Coach Rezende found the most ideal player to take over Ana Moser’s position.
He made a great choice.
Joining Erika were the great Leila Barros, Virna Dias and Fofao – 3 bronze medaliasts from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Ricarda Lima, a former outside/ opposite hitter, took over Sandra Suruagy as the libero. Janina Conceicao and Walewska were the starting middles together with Karin, Katia Lopes, Kely Fraga, Raquel Silva & Elisangela.
You gotta see how Leila wanted to win and play for the gold. Throughout the match, she was jumping, screaming and celebrating every point her team won.
In the end, Regla Torres and the Cuban team ruined Brazil’s chances of playing for the gold. Brazilians were crying while the Cubans were celebrating. Unlike the ugly scenario in Atlanta, both teams shook hands. You gotta pay attention on how Mireya Luis held Leila’s hand. We thought it was a very sincere act.
Here you go…
Thoughts?