When tensions rose in Olympic beach volleyball, the best solution was to return to the well at the opening ceremony.
When players from Canada and Brazil got into an argument during the beach volleyball final, a DJ stepped in and played John Lennon’s “Imagine” to ease tensions.
It worked beautifully.
Canada’s Melissa Umana Paredes and Brandy Wilkerson got into an altercation with Brazil’s Ana Patricia Silva Ramos during the deciding third set match, prompting the umpire to break up the three and show Wilkerson a yellow card.
Before the next point, a song that had been featured prominently at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games was played.
All four players laughed and clapped, and the audience jumped up and started singing along.
Brazil won the third set 15-10 to win the gold medal.
Wilkerson later explained that the incident was a misunderstanding; she was responding to a family sitting behind the Brazilian, and Ramos thought she was being teased.
“We were pretty excited, and our partners came over, and the umpire came over, so it was a little chaotic,” Wilkerson told reporters, “but after the game, even when they came over to shake our hands while we were still on the court, there were hugs right away.”
2024 Paris Olympics
After the match, both teams posed for photos together with their medals.
Wilkerson and Ramos also joked around at the news conference, laughing and pumping their fists.
“We’re all competitors and we’re all competing for the same goal,” Wilkerson said. “There’s only one gold medal. Right after the competition is over, there’s just so much love and respect.”
“We bring out the best in each other and it’s an honor to play against this team. What an incredible opportunity to play in the finals under the Eiffel Tower against the best players in the world. That’s a victory in itself.”
