Paris 2024: Best sitting volleyball moments

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were packed with memorable moments, including athletic feats and historic firsts, that took place at stunning venues in front of a vocal crowd.  

We will share three moments from each sport that made the Games very special.

Top moment

Morteza Mehrzadselakjani led Iran to an eighth Paralympic men's sitting volleyball gold, leading his team in points in the gold medal match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

"Morteza can be considered as one of the most important players in the world," said Iran's Meisam Ali Pour. 

"He knows what to do, he's the best spiker, and whenever possible he will be able to get points.

"But it doesn't mean that he's going to do it all by himself. We have another player, Ramezan Salehihajikolaei who is a good setter. He sets the ball for Morteza to spike."

While Bosnia and Herzegovina won the first set at North Paris Arena, it was all Iran for the remainder of the game, taking the win 22-25, 30-28, 25-16, 25-14.

"Our team deserved to win this Paralympic gold medal," said Ali Pour, who was named the tournament's MVP. "It was somewhat hard, but it was one of the most interesting matches."

Biggest surprise

Canada shocked Brazil in the women's sitting volleyball bronze medal match, beating the Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 bronze medallists in three straight sets to win their first-ever Paralympic sitting volleyball medal.

"It's tangible now. Now I have something that's reflective of all the hard work that we've done. So it's fantastic," said Canada's Heidi Peters.

Canada lost 3-1 to Brazil in preliminary around play, and despite losing to China in the semifinals, bounced back for the bronze medal match.

"Losing to Brazil in the second game was tough. I think it just lit the fire beneath us. We knew what we wanted to come out there and do, and we did exactly what we planned," said Canada's Danielle Ellis.

"I know how hard every athlete and every staff member and all of our family back home have worked for this moment.

"It's been years and years and years in the making, our third Paralympic Games, and we knew we wanted to be there."

Home hero

It was a first-ever Paralympic Games for both France's men's and women's sitting volleyball teams, making their debut at home in Paris.

"It was incredible. The passion of the supporters and the atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable," said France's Benjamin Lacroix-Desmazes.

"We know that is going to be very tough also," he said ahead of his team's second match of the tournament. 

"But even so, we're ready, we're going to fight for every ball and give the best we can."

For France's Jenna Agbodjan Prince, Paris 2024 was an opportunity for her team to challenge themselves against top nations.

"We appreciate being here because it's a big experience to play with the best teams of the world, USA, Italy and China. Last month we played against Germany and Ukraine, and it's very good to play against all of them."