In case you missed it, click HERE to read the full article.
2012 Olympic silver medalist Courtney Thompson is currently playing in the Brazilian League with and against some of the country’s BEST players. So the article title, “An American Olympian Prepares, on the Enemy’s Turf”, is perfect!
Here’s 6 of our BEST and FAVORITE QUOTES from the said feature.
1. “That’s what they tease me about. They’re learning about me, too. I may take a few tips back, but that was not my intent.”
2. “There are some advantages to playing together all year round. We wish we could do that. We all would if we could.”
3. “Walking around the streets, it’s very different than the U.S. People will say: ‘Hey, Courtney! You’re the American! How’s it going?’ I sat down at a restaurant the other night and the guy across from me, a Brazilian guy, said: ‘Courtney, good to see you. How’s the season?’ You don’t get that ever in the U.S. And the level of play? I’m playing with half their national team.”
4. “They know the game well. It’s almost like a dance. It’s very fluid. Their ball control is very good; their defense is good; they see the game well. They’re not always the most physical — of course, their national team is — but as a whole, they’re just smart. And you can tell that when you’re playing with them.”
5. “They grow up around the game, it’s so popular. We play twice a week, and the men play twice a week, so four nights a week you see really high-level volleyball on television. That’s the way to learn. You watch it; you go out and try to do it. It’s like watching video — you just don’t know it.”
6. “It was packed when we walked in there, and you could hear booing before we got out of the locker room. It was fun, you know? I think everyone here is pretty passionate, in all walks of life. It’s a really fun place to live and see their culture. But they aren’t afraid to let you know they’re not happy, those fans. I love it. But also, when you’re doing well, it’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen.”
The said article also features Coach Rezende’s revelation that 2 starting players from the Brazilian team are playing overseas because of money. A Brazilian player also adds that despite of not being the richest league in the world where players get a six figure salary, a lot of foreign players are interested to play in the Brazilian League because of the level.