French men's volleyball team joins rare company with gold-medal match result

The gold is staying in France.

The French men's volleyball team won its gold medal match against Poland on Saturday, finishing first in the event for a second consecutive time in the Olympic Games. France is only the third nation ever to win back-to-back men's volleyball gold medals.

In 2021, it defeated Taiwan (Republic of China) in a five-set thriller, winning France's first gold in men's volleyball.

It won in straight sets over Poland on Saturday, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23.

The U.S. (Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988) was the last to win consecutive gold medals in the event.

The former Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) was the first to accomplish the feat, winning gold in men's volleyball in the first two Games it was sanctioned as an Olympic sport (Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968).

With its volleyball win this year, the 2024 Paris Olympics host country has won 15 gold medals, moving it ahead of Great Britain for fifth place in the gold medal count.

As The Athletic's senior managing editor Zack Pierce wrote early Saturday, that ties the modern record for gold medals won by France at a single Olympic Games, set in Atlanta in 1996.

The French began the day positively, which could get even better later on Saturday.

The men's basketball team, led by Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, plays Team USA in the gold medal match at 3:30 p.m. EST.

However, per ESPN Bet , Team USA, led by all-time greats LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, is an overwhelming 16.5-point favorite.