Duda recounts the magic of Paris 2024, topped off by Olympic gold
It has already been a year since Duda and Ana Patrícia rose onto the top step of the Olympic podium under the glamourous guise of the Eiffel Tower.
That is one of the gold medallist’s core memories—being in awe of the sport’s privilege to play at Olympic venues. Just look at the iconic Parisian location in 2024 or the glistening sands of Copacabana at Rio 2016.
“It’s funny, the 12 days are so intense that in that moment you think, ‘Will it ever end?’ and then when it’s over, you say, ‘Wow, it ended so quickly?’” Duda jokes. “Every time I stepped onto the court, it was so meaningful for me. Looking at the [Eiffel] Tower and saying, ‘Wow, I’m really here.‘ It’s indescribable.
“When you’re on the podium, you look at that beautiful medal. Beach volleyball is lucky to be in the best place, right? Every Olympics, beach volleyball is in the best location. Everyone wanted to be there, even people unfamiliar with our sport. I sometimes wanted to be there just to see the tower rather than the game, it was surreal.”
Upon reflecting on her history-making moment, Duda is conscious of how significant it was for her career, and those around her. Take the Brazilian people, who celebrated their first Olympic women’s beach volleyball champions since the sport’s debut at Atlanta 1996.
“Winning an Olympics is so important, and already being there at the Olympics, is something extraordinary,” the 27-year-old explains. “But I say it’s your entire legacy: from the beginning, where you started, your origins, where you came from, your story. I think whoever wins deserves to be there, to win a medal.