The Brazilians had twice lost World Championship finals, including the 2005 edition to May-Treanor and Walsh, as well as take the bronze in 2007. This time though they held their nerve to fight back from 8-4 down to tie at 14-14 and go on to take victory, 21-17, 13-21, 16-14.
“Concentration was very important and we had to stay focused,” Larissa said. “We stayed firm mentally and took it ball by ball, like we did the whole match.
“All the World was watching this match, USA v Brazil, and knowing that made it difficult. We stayed united the whole match especially during the difficult moments.”
Juliana and Larissa have been the dominant duo in women’s beach volleyball. As well as World Championships medals they have won five of the last FIVB Swatch World Tour championships, but had yet to win gold at a major championship.
May-Treanor and Walsh by contrast were world champions three times and double and reigning Olympic champions, so held a psychological edge ahead of the game.
“I’m proud that we fought back and stayed strong when the game was difficult,” Juliana said. “We came prepared to fight and we were strong. We stayed strong and became more and more confident.”
For the United States pair it was not quite the dream finish to their comeback after two years out of the sport since winning gold at Beijing 2008.
“We never had it,” Walsh said. “It was a big lead and our goal with a big lead is to always extend it, but instead it shrank. I think we lost our rhythm and this game is all about rhythm.”
The pair defeated Emanuel’s former partner Ricardo Santos and Marcio Araujo 21-16, 21-15 in a one-sided affair in which Alison was his usual menacing presence at the net.
“This is my third championship and I want to dedicate it to my friend,” Emanuel said.
“When you play volleyball you need some kind of energy, but when you play beach volleyball you need even more and more energy.
“Here you play eight matches and sometimes when you get old you think eight matches are too much. But with him you think, ‘one more, one more game,’ and he gives me that type of energy that helps you improvise.
Emanuel won the 2003 world title with Ricardo and a year later added the Olympic gold. However, after stepping back from playing he then struggled to return to his best until he linked up with Alison and the unrelenting energy and passion he has on the court.
The 25-year-old Alison was voted the smart player of the tournament for his all action displays at the Foro Italico and now has a world gold medal to sit alongside the silver that he won with Harley Marques Silva in 2009.
“At that time I didn’t think I would (return) because I was changing my life for personal reasons and it was a very tough decision,” Emanuel said. “I spent a year trying to get back into shape and it was tough for me and Alison because we had some ups and downs.
“Two years ago this man besides me had his first moments in a World Championships and he almost tasted the juice of winning a world title. But we lost to the Germans. Two years after that final he has grown as a man and a player.”
For Marcio and Ricardo the silver medal was reward for recovering from a slow start to the tournament that included a loss to the Netherland’s Daan Spijkers and Emiel Boersma in the pool stages.
On the night though they had no answer to the power of Alison and intelligent play of Emanuel.
“We started slowly and then after the pool play we put all our energy into our matches,” Marcio said.
“We built and built and we have made a big step in the race to the Olympics. We wanted to win of course, but you can’t always win.”
