Norwegian beach volleyball stars Anders Mol & Christian Sorum, who benefit from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coaching program, have once again clinched a top spot on the podium. They secured the men`s gold medal at the recent Hamburg Elite event in Germany, part of the Beach Pro Tour. Fellow program beneficiaries, Stefan Boermans & Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands, earned the bronze, while Bartosz Losiak & Michal Bryl of Poland took home the silver. In the women`s competition, Italy`s Valentina Gottardi & Reka Orsi Toth were crowned champions. The women`s podium was completed by two Brazilian teams: Thamela Coradello & Victoria Lopes won silver, and Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) & Ana Patricia Ramos secured bronze.
The Norwegian national federation, Norges Volleyballforbund, has received significant support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, totaling USD 252,000 for its national beach volleyball teams. Jetmund Bernsten oversees the men`s duos` coaching. An additional USD 6,000 was allocated for a coach development and knowledge transfer initiative. Similarly, the Netherlands Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) has benefited from USD 217,600 in coach support for its national beach volleyball teams, with their men`s pairs trained by Michiel van der Kuip, a former European champion from 1995, and his coaching staff.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
Anders Mol & Christian Sorum, the world`s top-ranked team and current European champions, continued their impressive form by securing their second consecutive Elite gold on the Beach Pro Tour, following their victory in Montreal just two weeks prior. In Hamburg, the top-seeded Norwegian duo exhibited a dominant performance, dropping only one set throughout their pool matches. They capped off a six-game winning streak with a commanding 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) semifinal win against Latvia`s 13th-seeded Martins Plavins & Kristians Fokerots. In the gold medal match, they defeated Poland`s seventh-seeded Bartosz Losiak & Michal Bryl 2-0 (25-23, 21-14). This victory marks their third Elite trophy in 2025, elevating their outstanding Beach Pro Tour tally to 25 medals, including 14 golds.
The Dutch team of Stefan Boermans & Yorick de Groot began their Hamburg campaign with four consecutive wins, advancing them to the semifinals. Despite a 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) defeat to Losiak & Bryl, the second-seeded Dutch pair rebounded in the third-place match. They secured a decisive 2-0 (21-16, 21-10) victory over Plavins & Fokerots, earning their 10th Beach Pro Tour medal as a team. This achievement means they have reached the podium in all but one of their five Tour appearances this year.
With their silver medal in Hamburg, achieved with a 4-3 win-loss record, the Polish duo of Losiak & Bryl has also now accumulated an impressive total of 10 podium finishes on the Tour.
Women`s Tournament Highlights
In the women`s draw, Italy`s Valentina Gottardi & Reka Orsi Toth dominated the competition with an unbeaten six-match winning streak, culminating in their inaugural Beach Pro Tour gold medal as a team. Their previous best was a silver at the Alanya Challenge in June. In a semifinal upset, the sixth-seeded Italian pair defeated top-seeded German favorites Svenja Muller & Cinja Tillmann 2-0 (21-19, 21-13). They continued their underdog run in the final, staging a remarkable 2-1 (17-21, 21-18, 15-6) comeback to overcome the world`s number one team, Brazil`s second-seeded Thamela Coradello & Victoria Lopes.
Thamela Coradello & Victoria Lopes also made it to the gold medal match without a single loss, on a five-game winning streak. Their impressive run included a thrilling all-Brazilian semifinal where they triumphed 2-1 (21-11, 16-21, 16-14) against the reigning Olympic champions, fifth-seeded Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) & Ana Patricia Ramos. This brings Thamela & Coradello`s Beach Pro Tour medal count to six.
In the third-place playoff, Duda & Ana Patricia defeated Muller & Tillmann 2-0 (21-16, 21-18), securing their third consecutive Elite-level bronze medal, adding to their achievements in Brasilia and Montreal. Their total Beach Pro Tour medal tally now stands at a remarkable 18.
The Hamburg Elite tournament saw participation from 32 men`s teams and 31 women`s teams, representing 23 different nations.
The next Elite event on the Beach Pro Tour is scheduled to be held in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, from September 17 to 21.
Comprehensive results and standings for the Hamburg Elite tournament are available.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood