KSL OLYMPICS

France Beats Russians To Earn 1st Olympic Volleyball Gold

Aug 7, 2021, 5:17 PM

France's players celebrate their victory in the men's gold medal volleyball match between France and Russia during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

BY JOSH DUBOW, AP
Sports Producer

TOKYO (AP) — France made sure its first Olympic volleyball medal would be gold, beating the Russians 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, 21-25, 15-12 in a breakthrough win for a country that had no history of success.

France had qualified for the Olympics four times before this year and made it as far as the quarterfinals only once in 1988.

France🇫🇷 has won #gold in #Volleyball– Men's at #Tokyo2020 #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 7, 2021

But they survived against the Russians and won gold.

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