Brazil’s gold medal on home soil at the Olympic Games has extended their lead over second place Poland in the FIVB World Rankings ©Getty Images

Brazil have cemented their position at the top of the men's International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) senior world rankings following their victory at Rio 2016, while China's gold medal was enough to see them jump two places to the summit of the women's list.

The Brazilians’ performances in the FIVB World League, which earned them a silver medal, coupled with winning gold on home soil at the Olympic Games, has extended their lead over second place Poland.

Brazil claimed their first men's Olympic volleyball title for 12 years this summer after managing only silver at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Poland tightened their grip on second as the reigning world champions made it to the quarter-finals of Rio 2016 before they bowed out to the United States in straight sets.

The US moved up three places to third after their bronze medal at Rio 2016, while Olympic silver medallists Italy, beaten by Brazil in the final, held on to fourth position.

London 2012 gold medallists Russia failed to get a medal in Rio, dropping two places as a result to fifth.

Argentina reached the Olympic quarter-finals, losing to their South American rivals Brazil, but this was still enough to retain their sixth place position.

Egypt made the biggest leap in the rankings as they jumped eight places to reach number 12.

China moved up two places in the women's rankings into top spot after a phenomenal gold medal finish in the Rio 2016 Olympic tournament ©Getty Images
China moved up two places in the women's rankings into top spot after a phenomenal gold medal finish in the Rio 2016 Olympic tournament ©Getty Images

In the women's rankings, China moved up two places into top spot after a phenomenal gold medal finish in Rio.

Their route to the Olympic title came despite a poor start, where they won only two of their five matches in the preliminary round.

Their remarkable run from that point included beating the undefeated Brazilians in the quarter-finals, top four contenders The Netherlands in the last four and then Serbia in the gold medal match.

The Serbians jumped three places to third - their highest ever position in the rankings - with The Netherlands climbing four places to seventh after their fourth place finish.

The US, the Olympic bronze medallists, dropped from the top to second spot, while Brazil fell from second to fourth.

Russia and Japan also moved one place down in the rankings to occupy number five and six respectively.

Italy maintained their grip on eighth place, while South Korea dropped one place to ninth after a joint-fifth finish in Rio.

Rounding off the top ten are Argentina, who moved up two places in the rankings.