John Lennon ’s song ‘Imagine’ was used by a DJ to diffuse a beach volleyball row between Canada and Brazil at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday. Brazil clinched gold against their North American opponents, but the final turned sour in the third set, with the two teams locked in a tense and heated argument. The players approached the net and looked livid before a shouting match ensued, with Canada’s Brandie Wilkerson and Brazil’s Ana Patricia pointing fingers.
The Brazilians felt they were being taunted, but the Canadians said they were responding to their families in the crowd, cheering behind the Brazil team. The DJ took action by blasting out Lennon’s 1971 hit ‘Imagine’ – an anthem for peace – as the referee spoke to the players to try and get them to calm down. The song from the former Beatle played out loudly at the Eiffel Tower Stadium and when the players noticed it, they laughed and clapped, as the crowd applauded and sang the hit in what became an iconic moment at Paris 2024.
‘We‘re competitors and we are fighting for the same thing: There’s only one gold medal,’ Canada’s Wilkerson said after she walked away with the silver medal. ‘Immediately after the game, it’s all love and respect. We bring out the best in each other, and I’m honoured to play against this team.
Players at the beach volleyball started arguing so the DJ played Imagine by John Lennon ð #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/QuA8rfcL99 ‘What a beautiful opportunity we have to play the finals under the Eiffel Tower against the best in the world.
Like, that, in of itself, is a win. ‘We were pretty amped up [during the argument in the third set]. Partners are coming in, refs are coming in.
So it was a bit of a mess. ‘But after the game, and even right when they came to shake our hands, still on the court, there was an immediate hug and just kind of like, ‘Hey, it’s all good’.’ Brazilian star Patricia added: ‘It was a game thing.
Everybody wants to win. But it happens. It’s everybody trying to win, but now everything is OK.
’ It was Brazil who took the opening set – in extra points – 26-24. Canada bounced back, though, and rolled through the second set 21-12 to level it up. The South American nation then came out on top on in the decider to walk away with a gold medal.
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