How it unfolded
Brazil took the first two sets 25-19 and 25-20 and appeared set to cap three straight Olympic finals with a gold medal, taking a lead in the third set and even reaching match point. That's when Russian coach Vladimir Alekno made a gamble, moving 6-foot-9 middle blocker Dmitriy Muserskiy to the opposite position to keep attacking from the right side. Brazil's blockers had no answer for his hitting height, and Muserskiy finished the match with 31 points. Russia clawed back the third set 29-27. With momentum fully turned, Russia won the fourth set 25-22 and the decisive fifth 15-9. Sergey Tetyukhin finally won gold in his fifth Olympics. Notably, tournament MVP went to Brazil's outside hitter Murilo Endres despite the loss.
Why it still matters
This is the biggest comeback of the rally-point era and a demonstration of just how sharply height and power can swing a match's momentum. Alekno's decision to move a player's position entirely mid-match became a tactical precedent other teams have since referenced. It is also the only Olympic gold the Russian men's team has won since the Soviet collapse.