Megan and Nicole McNamara, who have been the golden girls of the Nanjing beach volleyball tournament, just missed out on reaching the top of the podium today, after a hard-fought match with Brazil.
“We are very proud of what we accomplished here in Nanjing. It’s an amazing feeling to win a silver medal for Canada,” said Nicole.
The McNamara twin were finally defeated by the powerful Ana Patricia Silva, the tallest woman in the Youth Olympic Games at 193 cm (6’4”), and her partner Eduarda Lisboa 1-2 (21-17, 13-21, 14-16).
The McNamaras, from Tsawwassen , BC, entered the final after their eighth-straight win earlier today, defeating Germany’s Lisa Arnholdt and Sarah Schneider 2-0 (21-18 and 21-18) in a 33-minute semi-final match. The Germans went on to pick up the bronze medal with a win over the Russians, also today.
The McNamaras, who earlier this month were awarded a bronze at the U19 World Championship, have garnered a lot of attention in China for their winning ways, identical looks and pleasant demeanours. “I think that Megan and Nicole are a fantastic team, and together with their coach Mischa Harris have done a stellar job representing Canada,” said Volleyball Canada’s beach head coach Steve Anderson.
“The whole experience of the games is something we will never forget,” said Megan, “and special thanks (teammates) Jake and Andrew, our coach Mischa, and team manager Marc Stromme for making it even more memorable.”
The men’s team of Andrew Richards (London, ON) and Jake MacNeil (Georgetown, Ont.) finished ranked ninth at these Games. The men’s final takes place on Aug. 27.