Valiente and Poletti fall just short of Olympic dream

Michelle Valiente and Giuliana Poletti came within one match of Paraguay’s Olympic dream, but Brazil’s Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes ended their run in the final of the South American beach volleyball qualifier in João Pessoa.

The Paraguayan pair fought hard in the opening set, which went to an extra point before Brazil won 26-24. The second set proved far more one-sided, with the Brazilians imposing their rhythm and closing out a 21-7 victory.

The result gave Brazil the title and secured its qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Paraguay, meanwhile, missed the Olympic ticket for the second edition in a row. Valiente and Poletti still have further chances to pursue qualification, and their strong campaign earned them a place at the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.

Their semifinal had already offered a dramatic test. Valiente and Poletti defeated Brazil’s Verena and Thainara 18-21, 21-14, 15-13 in a match decided by a tie-break.

Paraguay also claimed bronze through Fiorella Núñez and Denisse Álvarez. After losing the first set 18-21 to Verena and Thainara in the third-place match, the Paraguayan duo came back to win 21-15 and 15-8.