This is big news.
Perhaps the best women’s beach volleyball duo going right now, the world over, is splitting up at the end of the season. Larissa and Juliana, who some idiot said would steamroll into Rio 2016 together, are breaking up at the end of this season (read: after the Bangsaen Open at the end of this month).
The catalyst is Larissa. She says she has grown weary of playing, and wants to start a family. A nice reminder that these athletes we so revere are, at the end of the day, people just like us. She had told Juliana previously that she was only committing to play to the end of this season. Juliana, who has not decided whether she will seek a new partner for 2013 or sit out herself, is said to fully support her partner’s decision. And how could she not. You don’t spend eight years with the same person at your side in every tournament if you’re not the best of friends.
Larissa has not said whether her ‘break’ is to be permanent or just temporary, but for goodness sakes, girl, home Olympics! You saw Kerri have a couple of kids in between Games. It can be done. We want to see you in Rio!
Also splitting up are Talita and Maria, who that same idiot said might pose the greatest challenge to Larissa and Juliana in Rio. They’ve been together four years and have 21 FIVB medals, including seven golds. It looks like chump change compared to Larissa and Juliana’s hardware tally, but it’s the envy of pretty much every other team on the circuit, and that includes the top American teams.
Talita claims that Rio 2016 is the very reason for the split — despite their successes together, she says they both wanted a fresh start at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle. I don’t know what kind of crap sense that makes. Tinfoil hat time, but I suspect one or both of them found out about Larissa and Juliana’s split and wanted to angle to be Juliana’s new partner. If Juliana does play on, and if Larissa is walking away for good, she’d be hard-pressed to find a better partner. There’s no Misty/Kerri pairing to be had here — they’ve all got essentially the same physical makeup, and they’re all brilliant two-way players. I couldn’t say who would make the better partner for Juliana — probably the one she gets along with the best.
Both duos will remain intact for the Bangsaen Open. If Larissa and Juliana win it, they will the season points championship (they currently trail a Chinese duo). I don’t know what lesser position might also grant them the points title, but they do need a strong performance (and stronger than Xi and Chen, if they play).
This is Michael Phelps leaving the pool. As we all crowded around our screens to watch his final races, so will I be sure to be there for these two great duos’ last performances together. Possibly ever.
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