In a thrilling climax at the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, Italy magnificently captured their second world title. The dramatic final saw them overcome Türkiye with a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8) on Sunday.
This victory marks Italy`s 36th consecutive win in official matches, solidifying their dominance. Within a remarkable 13-month period, they have now amassed the Olympic title, the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League title, and this coveted world championship.
Italy now joins Cuba as only the second team in 25 years to simultaneously hold both the Olympic and World titles. Their journey to the championship was exceptional, dropping merely five sets throughout the tournament, with four of those coming in their intense semi-final clash against Brazil and the final against Türkiye.
Adding to their accolades, Italy`s setter Alessia Orro was named the competition`s MVP and best setter. Her performance in the final was particularly sublime, consistently orchestrating plays and setting up her teammates for crucial points.
Despite battling pre-final injuries, both Orro and Sarah Fahr showcased immense resilience. Orro`s leadership was pivotal, while Fahr contributed five points. Italy`s offensive power was spearheaded by Paola Egonu, who scored an impressive 22 points, and Myriam Sylla with 18, highlighting the team`s remarkable depth.
Further supporting the attack, Ekaterina Antropova chipped in with 14 points, and Danesi added seven.
Reflecting on the triumph, Italy’s coach, Julio Velasco, expressed profound emotion: “This victory is incredibly emotional for us. Having secured the World Championship, the Olympics, and two VNL titles, I truly believe this team will be etched into history as legendary. I am immensely proud of their efforts, winning two demanding matches back-to-back and consistently striving for excellence in every practice. They fully deserve all their achievements.”
The match began with Italy claiming the first set 25-23. Türkiye, however, responded powerfully, dominating the second set 25-13. A closely contested third set saw Italy narrowly win 26-24. But the reigning European champions, Türkiye, forced a fifth-set decider by taking the fourth 25-19.
In the decisive fifth set, Italy proved superior, maintaining control despite Melissa Vargas’s impressive 33 points for Türkiye. After briefly trailing 6-4, Italy launched a spectacular 11-2 comeback, including the final six points, to seal the championship, denying Türkiye any further opportunity.
Following the gold medal match, Egonu shared her overwhelming emotions: “I still can’t quite believe it. I’m incredibly proud of the team and overwhelmingly happy. This moment is unforgettable, and with it potentially being the last for some of our players, my heart feels completely full.”
This gold medal marks Italy’s third consecutive podium finish at the FIVB Women’s World Championship, having previously earned silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. It is their fourth overall medal, adding to their 2002 title. For Türkiye, this achievement represents their inaugural medal in World Championship history.
Earlier that day, Brazil secured the bronze medal, defeating Japan 3-2 in another hard-fought match.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood