Lausanne, Switzerland, May 23, 2016 – For Brazil’s four Olympic pairs the Moscow Grand Slam which begins on Tuesday, May 24 begins their countdown to playing in front of their home fans at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes and FIVB world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas will compete in the women’s tournament, while Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt and Pedro Salgado and Evandro Goncalves will go for gold in the men’s competition.
The Moscow Grand Slam is the first of five FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournaments that will take place in Europe before 24 teams per gender will descend on Copacabana Beach for Rio 2016.
The Moscow Grand Slam runs from May 24 to May 29 and Larissa and Talita will be out to defend the gold medals they won in 2015.
“Moscow was the starting point from which we built up to the 2016 Games,” Talita said. “We want to win gold again and we have good memories here.
“It will be the change to face the best teams in the world, was the other teams that will be in Rio and make late adjustments to our game.”
Last year Alison and Bruno missed out on the medals when they finished fourth in the Russian capital.
Following Moscow there is a Grand Slam in Olsztyn, Poland and Major Series events in Hamburg, Gstaad and Porec, Croatia.
“We are very motivated and excited,” Bruno said. “The best teams in the world will be competing in the tournaments leading up to the Olympic Games. They are important tournaments, at a high level and we can give ourselves an idea of how the teams will arrive at Rio.”