After competing at the Summer Olympics in Paris, Dana Rettke of Riverside returned to the United States with luggage comparable to the most enthusiastic tourists.
“I came home with three 70-pound suitcases because they just give you so much stuff,” Rettke said.
Making her debut with Team USA women’s indoor volleyball, Rettke had the official outfit from the July 26 opening ceremony, when teams paraded on boats along the Seine River. There was USA apparel from the closing ceremony in the Stade de France Aug. 11. Add to that plenty of gear and mementos in between.
Rettke especially was grateful to return with another slightly heavy and coveted object – a silver medal.
Entering the Olympics No. 5 in the FIVB world rankings, the U.S. reached the Aug. 11 championship match before losing to No. 1 Italy 25-18, 25-20, 25-17.
“While I was on the podium for the medal ceremony, it was surreal. Putting that medal around my neck was such a crazy feeling and it was really awesome,” Rettke said.
“We all might have exceeded our expectations a little bit. Well, definitely not exceeded, but we shocked the world a little bit. I don’t think a lot of people thought we’d be in the gold medal match. That was exciting just to prove a lot of people wrong.”
Eight of the 12 players returned from the first U.S. gold medal team at the Tokyo Olympics delayed until 2021. Four months later, Rettke was leading the University of Wisconsin to its first NCAA Championship and receiving an unprecedented fifth AVCA All-America honor.
This was the fifth straight Olympics for the U.S. with a medal. The closing ceremony was only hours after the championship loss.
“The timing was hard. We just played our game so it was a real big whirlwind. The closing ceremony was cool, but the opening ceremony definitely takes the cake,” Rettke said.
“The opening ceremony was incredible. It was pouring rain. [Still] people were lining the streets cheering for us. So many flags. The opening ceremony is one of the biggest unifying events that exists. To me, it kind of symbolized that I made it there. Coming down the Seine watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle, it was like a dream come true, one of the greatest experiences I’ll have in my life.”
Rettke gladly shared her medal with random fans after arriving with her team in New York Aug. 12, followed by a trip to Boston.
Being a 6-foot-8 middle blocker and having primarily Team USA gear left to wear, the 2017 Riverside Brookfield High School graduate was noticeable.
“We went out and people were buying us champagne toasts. [An airport security guard] was like, ‘I’m actually going to the lounge. Here’s an extra pass,’” Rettke said. “People have been very generous. I feel like this is something the whole country gets to celebrate, not just us.”
Sometimes the medal is as close at Rettke’s purse.
“It’s great to see people’s faces light up,” Rettke said. “They’re like, ‘I thought I’d never be able to hold an Olympic medal.’ I’m like, ‘Neither did I,’ so it’s really cool.”
With gold at stake, Italy rolled to its first women’s volleyball medal after its first semifinal berth.
The result was bittersweet, particularly for Rettke. Four teammates from her Vero Volley Milano club team in the Italian league over the past three seasons played significant roles in Italy’s historic achievement.
“(Italy) played incredible, almost flawless. It’s hard to argue that Italy is not the best team in the world right now,” Rettke said.
“I wasn’t really sure (afterwards) if I was able to go on the other side of the net to hug everybody. I just tried to give a little extra love. Once the last ball falls and the whistle blows, they’re all just friends in my eyes. I’m really happy for them.”
The U.S. also lost its first of three pool matches to No. 6 China in five sets. The U.S. began gaining momentum by beating No. 9 Serbia in five sets after winning the first two, followed by a three-set victory over No. 19 France.
“[Beating Serbia] kind of catapulted us into a little more belief, confidence in ourselves. When this team gets that, it’s full steam ahead,’ Rettke said.
After beating No. 4 Poland in three sets in the knockout quarterfinals, the U.S. outlasted Brazil 25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11 in an emotional semifinal.
The U.S. swept Brazil in three sets for 2021 gold, but Brazil was ranked No. 2 and the top seed in this Olympic qualifying. Brazil beat No. 3 Turkiye for bronze.
“[Brazil] will be a match I will forever remember. There were so many emotions, highs and lows,” Rettke said. “I would say probably a top-5 win in my career, definitely top five.”
Rettke’s parents John and Kathy, and sister Leah traveled to Paris. Rettke had time to dine and have coffee with them and others, such as Molly Gates, her childhood friend who convinced Rettke, then only playing basketball, to try volleyball as a high school freshman.
Rettke played in the third set against France. Also, a reserve her first season with Vero Volley Milano, Rettke contributed with her knowledge of international players and competitive spirit.
“I think it’s such an important role to a team. I am used to playing, being out there, but you’re talking about a team absolutely of all-stars,” Rettke said.
“I’m a younger, more inexperienced player when it comes to the totality of this team. I want to make sure no matter what role I’m in, I’m in that role 100 percent. It’s not how I envisioned it for sure, but it was everything I could have hoped for in terms of outcome and how my teammates supported me.”
In September, Rettke leaves for Istanbul to join Eczacibasi Sport Club, her new team in the Turkish league.
In 2028, the Summer Olympics come to Los Angeles.
“I’m for sure very motivated. I’d be really excited to go to another games. And it would be really cool to be on American soil,” Rettke said.
“[The Paris Olympics] was way more than I would have imagined. A lot of stimulation overload is the only way to describe it. It’s going to take me a little bit of time to get my bearings under me about what happened. But it was fun.”