The USSR won the first men’s Olympic gold medal in volleyball.
Volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo. In the men’s tournament, the Soviet Union finished first in a round-robin competition, earning the inaugural Olympic title. Czechoslovakia won silver, while Japan took bronze. The Soviet team won eight of its nine matches, losing only to Japan.
The USSR’s victory came during a period when Eastern European nations were major forces in international volleyball. The Soviet Union remained one of the sport’s strongest teams for decades, winning additional Olympic medals before its dissolution in 1991. The country competed at later Games under the name Unified Team in 1992, while Russia subsequently competed as its successor state.
The women’s inaugural Olympic tournament was also held in 1964, but Japan won that title. That difference is why the answer specifically depends on the men’s competition.