Beach Pro Tour
Dutch Olympians Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot secured a podium finish, proudly representing Europe at this week’s Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite event held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which concluded on Sunday.
Competing on the iconic Copacabana Beach, the historic site of the Rio 2016 Olympics, the Dutch duo triumphed over the 2024 European champions, Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots from Latvia, in a hard-fought three-set battle (17-21, 21-17, 15-11) to claim the bronze medal.
This remarkable achievement marks their sixth medal of the 2025 Beach Pro Tour season for the Paris 2024 Olympians. They have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in Brazil, having previously secured gold in the Brasília Elite event, alongside bronze medals in Saquarema, João Pessoa, and this latest triumph in Rio de Janeiro. Their additional bronze medals were won in Gstaad and Hamburg, showcasing their global consistency.
We are incredibly proud to secure another medal, especially here in Rio on such a historic beach. It`s a testament to our hard work and consistency throughout the season, and it fuels our motivation for Paris 2024.
Stefan Boermans
Dutch Beach Volleyball Player
The coveted gold medal in Rio went to Qatari Olympic medalists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, who delivered a commanding performance to defeat Cubans Jorge Alayo and Noslen Díaz in the final match.
In the women`s competition, the final featured an all-Brazilian showdown: Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcanti claimed gold, while Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes earned the silver medal. The American pair, Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft, completed the podium by securing the bronze medal.
Switzerland`s Anouk Vergé-Dépré/Zoé Vergé-Dépré and Italy`s Valentina Gottardi/Reka Orsi Toth were the top European finishers in the women`s event, both delivering strong performances to place fifth.
The Beach Pro Tour continues its exciting schedule next week, heading to Mexico, where the vibrant city of Veracruz will host a Challenge tournament from Thursday through Sunday.
Finley Blackwood