Lausanne, Switzerland, May 24, 2018 – Reigning Olympic champion Bruno Schmidt is set to return to play alongside former partner Pedro Solberg following a series of changes in the make-up of Brazil’s men’s teams that is likely to result in four new pairings.
Pedro told
Globoesporte.com that he and Bruno are due to reform the partnership that finished in 2013, and which first showed its potential when they won the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in 2006.
“Bruno is an excellent player,” Pedro said. “I've played with him before and we had success in a short time together. We've always had an off-court friendship and I'm looking forward to it.”
Bruno’s partner Alison Cerutti is reportedly eyeing a partnership with Andre Stein, one half of the Vienna 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships gold medallists.
In 2017 Andre and Evandro won the World Championships and the Brazilian Beach Volleyball Tour, as well as silver at the Hamburg 2017 FIVB World Tour Finals. Most recently they won gold at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 4-Star Itapema tournament.
Andre’s partner Evandro Goncalves expects the 23-year-old Andre to partner up with Alison, someone they know well from training together under the guidance of coach Leandro Brachola.
“It was the choice he wanted,” Evandro told
Globoesporte.com. “He is reaching a big stage of his career and fulfilling his potential. It has left me upset and feeling down, but it has happened now and I have to move on.”
Bruno and Alison teamed up at the start of 2014. Their greatest moment came when they won gold at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games on Copacabana, one year on from their triumph at the Netherlands 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships.
They also added gold at the Toronto 2016 FIVB World Tour Finals and won 10 World Tour golds. This year their best result was a third-placed finish at the Xiamen 4-Star tournament in April.
Their separation is likely to cause waves among the Brazil men’s teams. Evandro has already called up former partner Vitor Felipe to replace Andre, which leaves Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes and Pedro’s former partner George Wanderlay looking for new teammates.
“I was taken by surprise, too,” Guto said. “I did not imagine this change and I think all the teams will end up changing following the end of the partnership between Alison and Bruno. Now I'm going to stop and reflect on a possible partner.”