The 33rd edition of the CEV EuroBeachVolley, hosted at the Rochus Club in Düsseldorf, Germany, recently concluded, leaving a legacy of remarkable performances and historic achievements in both men`s and women`s competitions. This prestigious event brought together Europe`s elite, offering teams a prime opportunity to test their mettle against the continent`s best. Several teams, in particular, surpassed all expectations, returning home with results that will be long remembered. Here are five such standout pairs:
Maryna Hladun / Tetiana Lazarenko (Ukraine)
Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko won Ukraine`s first-ever EuroBeachVolley gold.
Ukraine made history at this EuroBeachVolley, securing their first-ever women`s medal – a gold – thanks to the exceptional play of Hladun and Lazarenko. Since partnering in 2023, they had shown flashes of their potential on the Beach Pro Tour. In Düsseldorf, however, they elevated their game, defeating eight Olympians on their path to the top. This EuroBeachVolley victory firmly establishes the Ukrainians among the sport`s international elite, marking a new chapter in their careers where maintaining this high standard will be key.
Tim Berger / Timo Hammarberg (Austria)
As Austrian men`s beach volleyball undergoes a generational shift following the retirement of legends, young Berger and Hammarberg are proving themselves as future standard-bearers. Three years after their U20 EuroBeachVolley triumph, 20-year-old Berger and 21-year-old Hammarberg impressively secured a fifth-place finish at the senior event for the second consecutive season. Their run in Düsseldorf included three straight wins before falling to eventual champions Anders Mol and Christian Sørum of Norway in the quarterfinals. Even their formidable opponents acknowledged the Austrians` immense potential in post-match comments.
Clémence Vieira / Aline Chamereau (France)
Vieira and Chamereau achieved a significant milestone for France, reaching the EuroBeachVolley gold medal match for the first time since 1999. Although they didn`t claim the title, their campaign was marked by stunning victories, including straight-set wins against two-time EuroBeachVolley champions Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova (Latvia) in the quarterfinals, and defending champions Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann (Germany) in the semifinals. This silver medal, combined with two Beach Pro Tour medals in 2025, solidifies their position as France`s leading team over Lézana Placette and Alexia Richard.
Eylon Elazar / Kevin Cuzmiciov (Israel)
Elazar and Cuzmiciov`s journey at the 2025 EuroBeachVolley began with a historic upset, as they defeated Polish stars Michal Bryl and Bartosz Łosiak to secure Israel`s inaugural victory in the event. This early success propelled the Israelis throughout the week, with strong performances including a win against Italians Gianluca Dal Corso. Despite competitive losses to Sweden`s Jacöb Holting Nilsson/Elmer Andersson and reigning world champions Ondřej Perušič and David Schweiner (Czechia), they secured a commendable top-ten finish. At 24 and 21 years old respectively, Elazar and Cuzmiciov have a promising future to further elevate Israel`s standing in continental beach volleyball.
Daniele Kvedaraite / Jekaterina Kovalskaja (Lithuania)
Lithuania continues to rise in European women`s beach volleyball, and Kvedaraite and Kovalskaja demonstrated that the nation possesses talent beyond its top team, Paris Olympians Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte. Competing in their most significant tournament to date, the pair secured two wins from four matches, notably overcoming French Olympians Lézana Placette and Alexia Richard in the Round of 24. This impressive performance earned them a ninth-place finish. Kvedaraite (23) and Kovalskaja (25) began appearing in Beach Pro Tour Challenge main draws last season and are well-positioned for continued development on the international stage.
Finley Blackwood 
Jasper Thornfield