Santos, known as “Serginho”, was a key part of the Brazilian side which delivered one of the Olympic titles their fanatical support craved by beating the Italians 25-22, 28-26, 26-24.

The win capped off a successful career for Serginho, who was a member of the victorious team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

He then won silver in Beijing and London before bowing out in style with a second Olympic crown in front of a packed Maracanãzinho, which translates as “Little Maracanã”.

The 40-year-old, who plays as a libero, admitted he was desperate to secure another Olympic title to end his time in the team in style.

“This was my last Olympic Games," Serginho said.

“A day before the match against France I talked to the other guys that I was feeling like I was in intensive care and I needed to be alive.

“I asked them to help me be alive.

“All of them have another Olympic cycle, but not me and I really wanted to be gold one more time."

As soon as Sunday’s (August 21) match had finished, Serginho revealed he “just wanted to go home” and return to normality following a whirlwind Olympic competition.

“I want to pick up my children from school,” he said.

“To go to a birthday party of my friends.

“To eat my mother's chocolate cake.

“And to be Serginho.

“This glory will pass and I will be a normal guy."

The women’s MVP honour went the way of Zhu Ting of China, who praised her team for sealing gold by overcoming Serbia.

The Chinese side battled back from a set down to clinch a hard-fought 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 success on Saturday (August 20).

“I think teamwork is the key to China’s victory,” she said.

“Thanks to my teammates’ hard efforts, I had the opportunity to show my spiking skills."