mangiamedia

With qualifying points for the 2016 Olympics in their country on the line, it was important that the Brazilian women made a good showing on the final day of the St. Petersburg Grand Slam in June, 2015.

And that they did. The Brazilian teams swept the podium at the beach volleyball tournament.

Third-seeded Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas defeated second-seeded Maria Antonelli and Juliana Felisberta for the gold, and Tiana Lima and Fernanda Alves beat Germany's Karla Borger and Britta Buthe for the bronze.

"It's important for the beach volleyball of Brazil," Lima said. "Brazil (has) a lot of good teams."

It was Brazil's 22nd women's podium sweep — a record for FIVB, the sport's world governing body — and the first since Nov. 1, 2014. After seven women's events on the FIVB World Tour, the past five straight have been won by three teams from Brazil.

Next year's Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro.