Brazil are seeking to win a third successive World Grand Prix title. They have been a dominant force in the competition since inception and in the last 11 editions they have been champions seven times and runners-up on three other occasions. Brazil is a volleyball-loving nation, illustrated by the fact that more ticket applications have been made for volleyball than any other sport at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. Coach Jose Guimaraes is one of the most successful coaches in volleyball history and he is looking for his eighth Grand Prix title with the team.
Brazil won the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and did the same at London 2012 to become the third team, after the Soviet Union and Cuba, to retain the title. The Brazilians also took Olympic bronze at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. They have won the South American Championships 18 times, including the last 10 times of asking. They finished third at the World Championship in Italy last year having come second to Russia at the previous two editions and they won the Grand Champions Cup in 2005 and 2013. There is always pressure on the Brazilian women but they seem to thrive under it.