The answer to that, in case you haven’t noticed, is no you haven’t. For my money, she’s been pretty conspicuous by her absence this season. Late last calendar year it was announced that Juliana would be partnering this season with Maria Antonelli. Except for a couple of events on the Brazilian circuit, that hasn’t been the case. Maria has partnered with Agatha Bednarczuk (including today over in the Hague).
I’ve seen some speculation and rumours as to why Juliana has been MIA, but today we have confirmation — the national federation have sidelined her. Why, for goodness sakes?
I really can’t answer that. Apparently the Brazilian federation are on some kind of power trip. Starting this season, players no longer themselves choose whom will form partnerships with whom. It’s mandated from above. You know that Ricardo/Alvaro partnership? It’s a very classic beach volleyball partnership — one big guy, one little guy. One veteran, one rookie. But it wasn’t Ricardo’s choice to take Alvaro as a partner. They’re making the best of it (indeed, they’ve already played two bronze finals this year, winning one), but you can almost tell just by looking at them that Ricardo’s not exactly at ease in the partnership. Remember, he’s half of arguably the greatest partnership in history with Emanuel. Can you imagine forcing Emanuel’s hand in terms of with whom he is allowed to partner?
And so Juliana is shelved. I wonder a little with whom she was expected to partner, but ultimately it doesn’t really matter. It seems the federation have decided to make an example of her. From their perspective it makes sense — show that even a former world champion isn’t above the law. But what a stupid law. The Brazilian federation is not the only one doing this — I’m taken to understand that the Russians have a similar policy — but I fail to see the gain. It’s not as if the Brazilians are hurting for FIVB points, so they can get away with it, but I don’t know why they want to.
The above linked FIVB article is primarily about Agatha and “old” partner Barbara Seixas feeling a bit uneasy facing each other as opponents. They played together only last season, and only in 9 tournaments, but it seems they really clicked with each other. Why break that up? What’s the upside?
I have no answer, and it really stinks that the direct result of this is one of the top players in the world being kept from competition.
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