AFP, Rio De Janeiro :Alison “The Mammoth” Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt sparked wild scenes at a rain-soaked Copacabana stadium as they powered to men’s beach volleyball gold at the Rio Olympics on Friday.The hulking, 6ft 8ins (2.03m) Cerutti, a losing finalist in 2012, and his new partner Schmidt thumped Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo 21-19, 21-17, prompting joyous celebrations.Brazil’s public has shown signs of ambivalence towards the Olympics but the country can now celebrate a fifth gold medal, and sealed at its most famous beach.Wet conditions and a midnight start failed to dampen spirits at Copacabana’s packed-out temporary stadium, where fans donned plastic ponchos and samba dancers jiggled in the rain.”The Mammoth” lived up to his nickname with an immense display at the net in the first set. And after Nicolai brought up set point with a wayward spike, it was a trademark Cerutti block that sealed it 21-19.Italy led 11-7 in the second set but Cerutti turned the tables as he reeled off seven of Brazil’s points in a row to put the world champions level at 14-14.
