2017-04-06 07:35:00 CET
2016 flashback: Golden girls!
Qualifiers come through eight games to strike it rich in Poreč
The victorious German underdogs. Photocredit: Predrag Vuckovic
Stand up and be proud Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude because you are the Poreč Major champions of 2016!
It’s been a week for the underdog – and that theme continued on a packed Center Court as the Germans claimed their first ever gold medal together by beating Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley in two sensational sets.
What’s even more remarkable is that it is the first time in Swatch Major Series history that a team from qualification battled through the rounds to claim gold – and only the 11th time that has happened in FIVB history.
And they did it in spectacular style – rarely giving their Olympics-bound opponents a sniff of a chance across two sets.
Both sets might have looked close on paper but in truth Laboureur/Sude were always in control against the Canadians who had to settle for silver for the second Poreč Major running.
There were scenes of disbelief, joy and jubilation in equal measure come the match point in the second set – and Chantal and Julia celebrated with countrywomen Karla Borger and Britta Büthe who claimed bronze in the match for third place.
And then the champagne flowed!
Enjoy your night girls and congratulations from us all at Swatch Major Series – we hope it’s the first of many!
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