France’s Journey from Underdogs to Volleyball Champions

The French men's volleyball team made history by claiming their first Olympic gold in Tokyo, defying expectations along the way. As Paris prepares to host the next Olympics, France faces heightened pressure as favorites. Both the men's and women's competitions promise intense matchups with top teams vying for the gold.

No one gave the French volleyball team a chance at the Tokyo Olympics, but they went on a giant-killing spree to claim their first-ever men's gold. Now, the pressure will be on the hosts in Paris, as they find themselves among the favorites.

France barely made it to the knockout stage in Tokyo but then surged to beat world champions Poland and the Russian team, popularizing a previously overlooked sport at home. "We are known as Olympic champions. Of course, it's extra pressure to hold this title," France setter Antoine Brizard said.

"In France, volleyball isn't a big sport, but the arena is now full when we play. It wasn't like this two years ago," Brizard added. The Tokyo Games, played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were held in empty stadiums. Now, France will have the chance to impress their supporters on home turf.

VNL 2023 champions Poland and the U.S. are poised to challenge France. Poland seeks to convert their World Championship success into an Olympic medal, while the U.S. women's team relies on veteran players like Jordan Larson to defend their gold from Tokyo.

Italy, ranked world number one, may pose the biggest threat after winning the 2024 VNL final against Japan. "We'll have a tough battle at the Olympics," Japan captain Sarina Koga said.

(With inputs from agencies.)