Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany silenced the diehard Brazilians fans inside the Olympic beach volleyball stadium on Copacabana Beach with a 21-18, 21-14 defeat of Barbara Seixas and Agatha Bednarczuk in the gold medal match.

Strong winds picked up shortly after the conclusion of the bronze-medal match between Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross and Brazil's Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca. Ludwig and Walkenhorst stepped up to the challenge, and made the wind work in their favor. 

The most inexperienced player on the court, Walkenhorst, 25, played the game of her life, putting away seven blocks and staying calm even with Brazil sending every serve her way. The three-time Olympian Ludwig finally secured her gold medal after a fifth in London and a ninth in Beijing.