Iran’s volleyball team looks to shock the world in Rio

In the 52 years since volleyball was introduced to the Summer Olympics, Iran’s national men’s volleyball team has never secured an Olympic spot. That all changed this past June, after Iran finished second at the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo.

Currently ranked 10th overall by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Iran’s volleyball team is one of 14 sports at this summer’s games in Rio de Janeiro that will feature an athlete from the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition, this squad is the only collective team-based sport that secured an Olympic spot for Iran. The other 13 sports that feature Iranian athletes are considered to be individualistic sporting events. Of the 63 total Olympic athletes that Iran has sent to Rio, nine of them are women.