Brazilian Olympic duos part ways

The outlook for Brazil’s men’s beach volleyball is changing after the Tokyo Olympics as both teams that represented the country at the Games, Alison Cerutti/Alvaro Filho and Evandro Goncalves/Bruno Schmidt, have recently announced they have decided to part ways.

The 35-year-old Alison, a Rio 2016 Olympic champion, and the 30-year-old Alvaro ended what was roughly a 30-month union on Tuesday, when they announced their decision to go different ways.

“It became normal in beach volleyball for teams to split because of arguments or disagreements but that’s not the case with us,” Alison said. “I can only thank Alvaro for the time we spent together and for believing in our team. We’ll be rivals from now on, but nothing more than that. Alvaro is a great player and a great guy, we developed a solid relationship and that will continue.”

Partners since May 2019, Alison and Alvaro competed in 19 FIVB World Tour events together and won two golds (in Kuala Lumpur and Espinho, both in 2019), two silvers and one bronze medal as a team. They finished fifth in Tokyo.

“I learned so much from Alison,” Alvaro remarked. “We had a unique experience together as we competed at the Olympics and it helped me so much to grow as a player. Whatever challenge I face now, I’ll do it as a more experienced and mature athlete. I have to thank our coaching staff too as they welcomed me with open arms and I’m very proud of everything we did together.”

Evandro and Bruno, who finished ninth at the Tokyo Games, also confirmed they’re going separate ways in the future of their careers.

Bruno, 34, and Evandro, 31, competed in 17 World Tour events since they became partners in February 2019. They won a tournament in Warsaw in that same year and also secured one silver and one bronze medal together.

“After several victories and accomplishments, Evandro and I decided to end our partnership,” Bruno, a Rio 2016 Olympic champion, wrote on his Instagram account. “We believe it’s the best option for both of us. Now each of us will be following his own path, fighting for new goals and dreams with new partners. Where many see an end, I see a new beginning.”

Earlier this month, Ana Patricia Ramos and Rebecca Cavalcanti, who were fifth at Tokyo, also announced the end of their partnership. None of the Olympians have announced new partners yet, but decisions are expected to be made before the start of the 2021-2022 season of the Brazilian Tour, on September 21.