In a thrilling comeback, the Italian duo defeated the top-ranked Brazilians, Thamela and Victoria, in the gold medal final.
Throughout the tournament in Hamburg, Orsi Toth and Gottardi lost a mere two sets.
Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth, a newly formed Italian team for the 2025 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour season, achieved their inaugural title together on Sunday, winning the Elite event in Hamburg.
At the Am Rothenbaum Stadium, the jubilant Italian pair stood atop the podium. They were joined by two Brazilian teams: Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes, who secured second place, and Duda Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos, who finished third in this seventh Elite event of the season.
To claim their first gold as a team, the Italians once again found themselves in a tie-breaker. After dropping the first set, they staged an impressive comeback, defeating the formidable FIVB World Ranking leaders Thamela and Victoria with a score of 2-1 (17-21, 21-18, 15-6) in the final match.
“It`s an immense honor to compete here,” Orsi Toth remarked. “As a child, I watched my older sister, Tokyo Olympian Viktoria Orsi Toth, play globally, always hoping to one day participate in such a tournament. Winning gold today feels like a dream realized.”
Since forming their partnership in April, the Italian duo had competed in six Beach Pro Tour events. Remarkably, their first triumph followed their most challenging performance at the Montréal Elite, where they finished 13th after losing all three pool play matches without winning a single set, including one against Thamela and Victoria.
Gottardi shared, “Our previous tournament was particularly tough as Reka was recovering from an injury. However, this week she showcased her exceptional talent. I am incredibly proud of her performance in Hamburg.”
This win in Hamburg signifies the first gold medal for an Italian female team at an Elite Beach Pro Tour event. It also marks the team`s second medal overall, following a silver at the Alanya Challenge in June.
Olympic Champions Prevent Germany from Medaling
Brazil secured another spot on the podium in Hamburg, as the reigning Olympic champions, Duda and Ana Patrícia, overcame local favorites Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann in straight sets (21-16, 21-18) to claim the bronze medal.
This victory marks the Brazilians` third consecutive bronze medal in the 2025 Beach Pro Tour season, echoing their earlier successes in Brasília and Montréal. They had previously won in Hamburg during the 2023 season.
Ana Patrícia expressed her delight: “I am very happy. These medals, I believe, demonstrate our strong performance this season, even with numerous challenges. We strive to perform our best daily, and today we truly excelled. Playing here in Hamburg always feels incredibly special.”
Beach Pro Tour Hamburg Elite: Match Schedule and Results
The next Beach Pro Tour Elite event this year will be hosted by Brazil, with the city of João Pessoa organizing the tournament from September 17-21.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick