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Brazilian-born pair takes Georgia to beach volleyball semis

Society Materials 18 August 2008 17:30 (UTC +04:00)

Brazilian-born Renato Gomes and Jorge Terceiro - who compete with the aliases "Geor" and "Gia" - made history for Georgia on Monday by advancing to the semifinals of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament, dpa reported.

Gomes and Terceiro beat the Dutch pair Richard Schuil and Reinder Nummerdor by a double 21-19.

The two Brazilians were naturalized as Georgians three years ago, and they almost saw their dream of a medal thwarted when armed conflict threatened to push Georgia out of the Olympics.

On Monday, they showed off a Georgian flag to mark their feat, although they continue to leave in their native city of Joao Pessoa.

"When I saw the Georgian flag I remembered a scene in Rocky and I decided to show it after the win," Terceiro explained.

After the conflict with Russia erupted in the opening day of the Games, the two South Americans promised they would do their best to "give a little joy to the Georgian people".

"The feeling of advancing to the semifinals is undescribable," said Gomes.

"Geor" and "Gia" are now set to clash with Todd Rogers and Phillip Dalhausser, of the United States.

Georgia was also represented by Brazilian-born athletes in the women's beach volleyball competition in Beijing, although Andrezza Chagaz and Cristine Santanna have already been eliminated.

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