RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Veteran Brazilian volleyball libero Serginho said he dreams of returning to a “normal life” after winning a second Olympic crown, 12 years after the first.

Serginho gave an emotional speech after Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Italy in Sunday’s final at Rio’s Maracazinho arena, laying down his number 10 jersey on the court and officially retiring it.

“What I deserve now is to go home, to pick up my kids from school,” said the 40 year old, who was part of the teams that lost the finals in 2008 and 2012.

“That’s all I want, to get on my bike and get out of here as quickly as possible.

“I don’t owe anyone anything any more. I’m going home to drink a beer and that’s it.

“I want to get back to my normal life. I’m going home to sleep in my bed, to go to my friend’s birthdays… to live my life. That’s my dream!”

Roared on by a passionate home crowd, including Brazil’s football gold medal winning hero Neymar, the hosts grabbed a seventh gold to finish 13th in the medals table.

And Serginho said it was a deserved victory for a team that had dominated world volleyball, winning three of the last four world championships, but come up short twice in a row in the title contest at the Games.

“This was a victory for a group of players that had won everything but were missing only the Olympic gold medal.

“But that was only the foundation stone for them to become Olympic champions.”

He added: “It was my last Olympics, my last chance to become a double Olympic champion and the lads helped me.

“They all have another Olympic cycle ahead of them but I won’t have another opportunity.”