Beach volleyball and the Olympic spirit run in the blood of siblings Pedro Solberg, Maria Clara, and Carol. The children of former player Isabel Salgado, Brazilian volleyball icon in the 1980s and 1994 world champion, the carioca athletes follow in their mother’s footsteps. Moreover, they expect to increase the number of Olympic athletes in their family before long. All three have a dream in common: competing in the Rio 2016 Games. (Photo gallery: beach volleyball teams train in Ipanema)

Mother of four Isabel, now 53, saw three of her children follow her trajectory in sport after a 30-year career, in which she represented Brazil in two editions of the Olympic Games. Her children have always been close to her, which encouraged them to take up the sport.

“Her influence in our choice was simply the fact that volleyball has always been very present in our lives. From a young age, we accompanied her to many competitions as well as trips and we have always been very linked to the sport. We used to play ball at home and at the sport school she managed at the beach, and our opting for this career ended up being very natural. But she always offered us several other possibilities, such as music and ballet, and gave us total freedom to decide our own path. When she realised that we had made our choice, she continued to help us, passing on her entire experience, as she still does”, says 30-year-old Maria Clara.

The support comes in various ways. Since the beginning of her daughters’ career, who currently play as a team, Isabel has already served as partner and coach for both. Currently, she is part of her children’s technical team, and whenever she can, she follows their training sessions on the Ipanema sands, in front of Rua Garcia D’Ávila, a traditional point for the sport’s enthusiasts on Rio de Janeiro’s beachfront.

“Our relationship has always been very natural. I'm very proud of them and I admire who they are. I have been present ever since they started playing, as I have been in all other areas of their lives. Volleyball is simply one further bond that unites us. When the training session ends, we talk about many things, because there’s much more to life than a volleyball court. We are very sincere and this helps us a lot in dealing with the difficulties that arise”, says Isabel.

Although she participates in two television shows, Isabel still finds the time to follow her children’s training sessions (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

As part of the Brazilian national team, Isabel competed in the Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. Despite finishing in seventh place on both occasions, the former player is proud when sharing her memories with her children.

“Despite never winning a medal, she talks to us a lot about her Olympic appearances. In the first one, in 1980, she was very young, only 19. Of Los Angeles, in 1984, she talks a lot about the 3-2 defeat to the United States, one of the great teams of the day, after Brazil had led the match 2-0. This match was on the eve of her birthday and affected her very much”, recalls Carol, 26.

The former star’s winning genes were also passed on to her son Pedro, who since January plays together with legendary Emanuel. Pedro was the World Tour’s youngest champion in 2008, at the age of 22, and is the current Brazilian champion and world vice-champion. Last weekend, he won the Brazilian Tour’s seventh stage, held in Natal in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, his first title together with Emanuel. Maria Clara and Carol finished the competition in fourth place. Together, the sisters already reached second position in the 2007 Brazilian Circuit as well as in the 2013 World Tour.

The Olympic beach volleyball qualifying process will begin only in 2015, and the siblings can count on their past experiences to secure their places for the first time. The Salgado sisters participated in the 2008 qualifying event but missed it in 2012 when Carol was pregnant with her son José. Pedro was a member of the third best Brazilian team in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic rankings but did not qualify due to a limit of two teams per country.

“Competing and winning in the Olympic Games is a dream that I have since I was a child. Being able to experience such an important moment, playing here in Rio, would be indescribable and really special. I have already taken part in the Olympic qualifiers twice and not being able to participate in Beijing and London was very hard for me. But these experiences have helped me to grow and I'm sure that this time I'll know how to cope with the difficulties that may arise in a better way. It will not be easy but those who persevere reach their goals”, says Pedro, 27.

The family’s training centre on Ipanema beach has stunning views (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

A doting mother, Isabel does not hide that it would be her dream to see all three children playing on the sand of Copacabana in 2016. But, until then, she knows that there still is a long road ahead.

“Of course I really want to see all three qualify, and they are able to do it, but I’m not used to thinking of something which has yet to happen. What I say to them is that they must value the process more than the final goal, as great as it may be. Competing in the Olympic Games is the dream of every athlete. The important thing is to wake up every day in good spirits, always take pleasure in training and, in the end, have the satisfaction of knowing that you did your best. This daily routine is what strengthens the athletes”, she explains.

In the competition for a place in the Olympic Games, Pedro, Maria Clara and Carol can fully count on their family’s strength. Inseparable, they train in the same place on a daily basis and are sure to be present in the stands of the world’s major competitions when one of them plays.

“We were lucky that we chose the same profession, that we are successful in our careers and that we can always be together, because sport usually separates athletes from their families a little. It is really very special that we can get to know the world together, cheer and encourage one another, because in this routine of tournaments and trips, being able to count on this support makes all the difference for us”, concludes Maria Clara.