Olympics: German spikers stun Brazil to snatch gold

Rio de Janeiro - "I'm speechless," Ludwig said after the 21-18, 21-14 victory over Brazil's reigning world champions

On their left was the United States, the birthplace of beach volleyball and the most successful country in its Olympic history.
To their right was one of two Brazilian women's teams to reach the medal round on their home sand at Copacabana beach, the sport's spiritual home.
But there on the top step of the medal podium were Germany's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst, claiming the second straight Olympic gold medal for their homeland and establishing it as a power in the beach volleyball world.
"I'm speechless," Ludwig said after the 21-18, 21-14 victory over Brazil's reigning world champions on Wednesday night.
Four years after the German men claimed the country's first Olympic beach volleyball title, Ludwig and Walkenhorst beat the reigning world champions from Brazil to give the country its first women's beach volleyball medal.
"My feeling was, 'If they can do it, we can do it,'" said Ludwig, who finished fifth in 2012 and was in the stands for the men's final in London.
"It's a pity because never in a big tournament have we (German women) had this success. But, also: happy because we are the first."
Agatha and Barbara took silver just hours after Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross beat Brazil's other women's team. Larissa and Talita lost in the semifinals to the Germans, spoiling the hosts' hopes for an all-Brazilian final.
"We would have liked a final with the Brazilians. It would have been very beautiful," Agatha said. "But the Germans deserved the final, and they deserved the medal."
With top-seeded Alison and Bruno in the men's final against Italy on Thursday, the hosts have clinched no worse than a silver, with a chance for its first gold since 2004.
"Of course, we wanted to win the match. But we are very proud about the medal. I think all Brazilians are proud about this medal," Agatha said. "We have one medal and we must be happy with the silver. We have one more chance with the men."