Amarcord | August 12, 2012 – Russia became the first team in the history of men’s Olympic Volleyball to win the final from two sets down as they stunned Brazil 3-2!

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August 12, 2012.
Fourteen years ago today, we witnessed what may still be one of the greatest Olympic volleyball finals ever played.

Of course, that is the view of a neutral spectator. For those on the losing side, it was a very different story.

London 2012. Russia vs Brazil. Olympic gold on the line.
Brazil looked firmly in control.
The favourites won the opening two sets 25-19 and 25-20, and Russia seemed to be heading towards a painful defeat.

Then came the decision that changed everything.
With his team two sets down, Russian head coach Vladimir Alekno made one of the boldest tactical moves in volleyball history. He moved Dmitriy Muserskiy from middle blocker to opposite, while Maxim Mikhaylov moved from opposite to outside hitter.
There was just one problem:
Muserskiy had played zero points as an opposite in that tournament, and Mikhaylov had played zero points as an outside hitter.
It was a gamble. A desperate move that could have turned Alekno into the target of criticism from the entire volleyball world had it failed.

Instead, it changed the history of the match.
Brazil simply could not find an answer to Russia’s new attacking system.
Russia fought back to win the third set 29-27, survived another battle in the fourth 25-22, and then completed one of the most spectacular comebacks the Olympic Games have ever seen, winning the deciding set 15-9.

Russia won 3-2.
Olympic gold.
And Muserskiy?
31 points.
An Olympic final record.
Mikhaylov added 17, while Sergei Tetyukhin contributed 12 in a Russian performance that turned a seemingly lost match into one of volleyball’s most unforgettable victories.

From 0-2 down to Olympic champions.
Sometimes, one decision changes everything.
And sometimes, the craziest decision turns out to be the one that creates history!

In details, for almost three sets, Russia looked nothing like the team that had swept past Bulgaria 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Brazil, on the other hand, appeared to have the Olympic final firmly under control. They had dominated the opening two sets, combining powerful attacking with extraordinary defence, while Russia struggled to find answers.
The turning point seemed to arrive at 22-19 in the third set.
Convinced that the gold medal was only moments away, Brazil sent Giba onto the court.
The legendary captain, who had been little more than a spectator throughout the London Games because of injury, was given the chance to be on court when Brazil finally secured another Olympic title.
It was supposed to be a celebration.
Instead, it became the beginning of one of the most extraordinary comebacks volleyball has ever witnessed.
Brazil had taken the first two sets 25-19, 25-20, and Russia were staring into the abyss. But then something changed.
Dmitriy Muserskiy took over.
The great Russian middle blocker began imposing himself at the net, while Brazil’s previously flawless defensive system started to crack. Sergio, magnificent during the opening sets, could no longer provide the same stability behind the block, while Brazil’s attack began losing its rhythm.
Russia fought back from 22-19 down to level the third set at 22-22. Brazil had two opportunities to close the match, but could not take either one.
Russia finally won the set 29-27.
Suddenly, the impossible no longer seemed impossible.
The fourth set belonged to Russia. Their block became increasingly difficult for Brazil to penetrate, their serves began creating problems and their confidence grew with every rally. Russia moved ahead 15-12 and never looked back, taking the set 25-22.
A match that had appeared to be Brazil’s was now going to a deciding fifth set.
Russia opened it 3-1, and the momentum was completely theirs.
Then came another extraordinary moment. A block from Russian libero Alexey Obmochaev somehow dropped onto the Brazilian side of the court for a winner, putting Russia 12-6 ahead.
Brazil had no answer.
At 15-9, it was over.
Russia had completed the comeback.

19:25, 20:25, 29:27, 25:22, 15:9.

From two sets down and 22-19 behind in the third, Russia had somehow turned an almost certain defeat into an Olympic title.
And at the heart of it all was Dmitriy Muserskiy.
On the opposite side, Brazil had watched a seemingly inevitable victory disappear in the space of a few extraordinary minutes.
Giba had entered the court expecting to celebrate.
Instead, he watched Russia celebrate one of the most remarkable victories in Olympic volleyball history.
London 2012. A final that was over…until it wasn’t!