Heartwarming moment major spat between Brazilian and Canadian beach volleyball players at the Olympics is defused as DJ plays John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, sparking mass sing-a-long

This is the heartwarming moment a DJ stepped in to defuse a heated row between Brazilian and Canadian beach volleyball players during their women’s gold medal match at the Paris Olympics – with John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ sparking a singalong.

During the third set of a back-and-forth contest on the sand at the Eiffel Tower Stadium, Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson became embroiled in a shouting match with Ana Patricia Silva Ramos of Brazil.

All three players stood at the net yelling and pointing at each other after a disagreement while Duda Lisboa, Ramos’ team-mate, took a step back.

The referee was forced to come between the two sides and separate them but the verbal jousting continued with a fiery Wilkerson and Ana Patricia locking eyes.

Wilkerson eventually walked away and was shown a yellow card.

Brandie Wilkerson (left) and Ana Patricia Silva Ramos (right) exchanged words at the net

As the Brazilians got back into position to serve for the next point, the DJ at the venue began playing ‘Imagine’, Lennon’s famous song calling for peace and unity.

The message clearly resonated with all four players with both sides seen laughing and applauding live on TV. The crowd even joined in with an impromptu singalong.

Ana Patricia and Duda had rallied back from an 11-5 deficit to take the first set 26-24 but Canada won the second set 21-12 to take the match the distance.

Brazil quickly opened up a 12-7 lead in the first-to-15 tiebreaker and tensions then flared with Wilkerson and Ana Patricia exchanging words after a joust at the net.

Wilkerson later revealed to reporters that the incident had been a misunderstanding. She had been responding to her family in the crowd, who had been seated and cheering behind both Brazilian players, but Ana Patricia believed she was taunted.

‘We’re pretty amped up, partners are coming in, refs are coming in. So it was a bit of a mess,’ Wilkerson said. ‘But after the game, and even right when they came to shake our hands, still on the court, there was an immediate hug.’

But it was all smiles after the DJ played John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, a song calling for peace

Duda Lisboa, Ana Patricia’s team-mate, couldn’t help but grin after the tune was blared out

The good spirits between Canada and Brazil continued as they were given their medals

It took Brazil only five more points to secure the victory after play resumed, with the showdown finishing 15-10. Mutual respect was evident between all four players in the aftermath and they posed for photos on the podium after collecting their medals.

The good humour continued into the post-match press conference when Wilkerson and Ana Patricia laughed and jokingly put up their fists.

‘We’re competitors and we are fighting for the same thing: There’s only one gold medal,’ Wilkerson said. ‘Immediately after the game, it’s all love and respect.

‘We bring out the best in each other, and I’m honored to play against this team.’ 

Wilkerson then added: ‘What a beautiful opportunity we have to play the finals under the Eiffel Tower against the best in the world. Like, that, in of itself, is a win.’