The recent Gstaad Elite 16 event on the Beach Pro Tour highlighted not only top-tier beach volleyball competition but also the tangible impact of targeted development programs. Teams receiving support through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative demonstrated exceptional performance, collectively securing four medals across the men`s and women`s tournaments: one gold, one silver, and two bronze.
Men`s Tournament: Gold for Qatar, Bronze for the Netherlands
In the men`s draw, the Qatari duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan delivered a commanding performance. Seeded third, they navigated their way to the final with a near-perfect record, their only loss being an early group stage match. Their path to gold included a significant semifinal victory over the Dutch team, Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot, whom they defeated in straight sets (21-16, 21-18). The final saw a tightly contested match against Swedish qualifiers Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson, with the Qataris ultimately prevailing 2-0 (21-19, 22-20). This marked Cherif and Ahmed`s second Beach Pro Tour gold of the season and their ninth overall BPT medal. The success of the Qatari pair is underpinned by substantial investment from the FIVB Empowerment program, including significant coach support and equipment funding, enabling them to train under the guidance of Argentine coach Pablo Bernardi.
The Netherlands` Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot also achieved a podium finish. After their semifinal loss to the eventual champions from Qatar, they faced a tough challenge in the bronze medal match against the formidable Brazilian team of George Wanderley and Andre Stein. In a hard-fought battle, the Dutch pair staged a comeback, winning 2-1 (21-23, 21-17, 15-10) to claim the bronze medal, their ninth on the Beach Pro Tour. Like their Qatari counterparts, the Dutch men`s teams benefit from the Empowerment program`s focus on coaching, working with coach Michiel van der Kuip and his staff, reflecting a direct correlation between structured support and consistent results.
Women`s Tournament: Silver for Latvia, Bronze for Switzerland
On the women`s side, Latvia`s Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova earned a silver medal, their second Elite silver of the season. Seeded eighth, they showed resilience throughout the tournament. Their semifinal match put them against a home crowd favorite, the Swiss duo of Tanja Huberli and Leona Kernen. Graudina and Samoilova secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory (21-18, 24-22). The final saw them face the top-seeded American team, Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher, eventually finishing as runners-up after a 2-0 loss (21-19, 21-18). This podium finish adds to their impressive record, bringing their total Beach Pro Tour medals to eleven. The Latvian team`s development is supported by the Empowerment program with coach support and equipment, working under Spanish coach Daniel Luis Wood Rodriguez.
Switzerland also celebrated a podium finish through the efforts of sisters Anouk Verge-Depre and Zoe Verge-Depre, who claimed the bronze medal. After losing their semifinal match 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) to the eventual champions from the USA, the Verge-Depre sisters faced their compatriots, Huberli and Kernen, in an all-Swiss bronze medal match. They delivered a decisive performance, winning 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) to secure the bronze. This marks their fourth consecutive medal on the Beach Pro Tour, a testament to their consistency. The Swiss women`s beach volleyball program receives substantial coach support from the FIVB Empowerment initiative, with the Verge-Depre sisters training under Polish coach Damian Wojtasik. Their repeated podium finishes highlight the effectiveness of this sustained investment in coaching expertise.
Empowerment Program: Investment Yielding Results
The performance of these four teams at the Gstaad Elite tournament underscores the impact of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. By providing targeted financial support for coaching, equipment, and athlete development, the program empowers national federations to build competitive beach volleyball teams. The success in Gstaad – one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals for supported teams – demonstrates a clear return on this investment, helping nations develop athletes capable of competing and succeeding at the highest level of the sport.
The Gstaad Elite welcomed 32 men`s and 32 women`s teams from 22 countries, representing a truly global stage for the sport. As the Beach Pro Tour continues, the results in Gstaad serve as positive reinforcement for the strategies employed by the Empowerment program and the dedication of the athletes and coaches involved.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely