UPDATE 3-Olympics-Volleyball-China ends Cuban medal run

(Recasts)

By John Ruwitch

BEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Brazil showed why they are the world's top-ranked team by trouncing the United States to capture the Olympic gold medal in women's volleyball on Saturday.

"Only in the second set we played badly," said Brazil's Sheilla Castro after the dominating 25-15 18-25 25-13 25-21 victory. "This has been a four-year effort."

The second-set wobble at the raucous Capital Gymnasium was the only frame the powerful Brazilians surrendered during their entire 8-0 run in the Olympics.

"We were ready for this. We knew the final wouldn't be easy, but we showed that we can keep cool and control our nerves," said Brazil's Paula Pequeno.

"This USA team is the best we've seen in the last four years. Point after point, we started feeling more relaxed. This is what we came to China for."

Earlier, China whipped Cuba in four sets to take third place, leaving the Cubans off the podium for the first time since the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

The gold medal match was Brazil's maiden appearance in an Olympic final and the United States' first since 1984 when they took silver in Los Angeles at the hands of a Chinese team that included America's current coach, Lang Ping.

Brazil failed to medal in Athens four years ago after collecting bronze medals the previous two Games.

"Right after we won, the last four years flashed before me in one second, and I could see it was all worth it," said Pequeno.

MIXED EMOTIONS

U.S. players had mixed emotions about losing in the championship round.

"It was a little bitter that we lost but we have nothing to be disappointed for," said American Logan Tom. "I think our girls feel like that. You see tears and tears of happiness."

Cuba, who won bronze in Athens in 2004 after taking gold in the three previous Games, faltered in late matches in Beijing. Coach Antonio Perdomo said nothing lasts forever.

"If you take a look at history in women's volleyball there was a time when the Russians were the champs, there was also another time when the Japanese were the champs and for 10 years uninterrupted the Cubans were the champs," he said.

"Nothing is absolute."

The bronze medal victory was bittersweet for China, with close to half of the squad expected to retire. (Additional reporting by Paul Majendie; Editing by Steve Ginsburg)