Brazil hasn’t won an Olympic basketball medal since 2000, but with a home Games coming next year, the Brazilian Basketball Confederation is setting a lofty goal -- men’s and women’s medals in Rio de Janeiro.
The Brazilian men’s team last won a medal in 1964 (all of its three medals were bronze) and lost in the quarterfinals at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Its team in Rio could include NBA veterans Anderson Varejao, Nene, Tiago Splitter and Leandro Barbosa. The competition from the U.S. and likely Spain and France will be formidable.
The Brazilian women’s team took silver in 1996 and bronze in 2000. It didn’t reach the quarterfinals at either of the last two Olympics or FIBA World Championships.
Its team could include WNBA All-Star Erika de Souza. Again, the U.S., Spain and France will be tough to compete with, along with Australia.
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