Beach Volleyball
Sunday`s CEV EuroBeachVolley final in Düsseldorf will crown a new women`s champion, as France`s Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau and Ukraine`s Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko compete for the gold medal. This historic event marks the first time a team from either country will claim this prestigious title.
The highly anticipated gold medal match is scheduled for Sunday at 14:30 local time at the Rochus Club. Prior to this, at 13:15, Germany`s Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann will face Spain`s Daniela Álvarez and Tania Moreno in the bronze medal match.
Historically, nine different nations have claimed the women`s EuroBeachVolley title. Germany leads with an impressive nine wins, followed by Italy (5), Switzerland (4), the Netherlands (3), Greece (3), Latvia (3), Czechia (2), Austria (1), and Russia (1).
Vieira (24) and Chamereau (29), who represented France at last year`s Paris Olympics, have showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament. They secured their spot in the final with a decisive two-set semifinal victory (21-13, 21-16) on Saturday against reigning champions and local favorites Müller and Tillmann. This marks their third EuroBeachVolley appearance together, and they arrive undefeated with five straight wins. They are only the second French duo to reach the final, following Anabelle Prawerman and Cécile Rigaux in 1999, and are now poised to earn France`s inaugural gold medal in this event.
Being in the final is incredible. We`ve worked so hard for this, and to have the chance to make history for French beach volleyball is a dream come true. We`re ready to leave everything on the sand.
Clémence Vieira
French Beach Volleyball Player
Ukrainians Secure First Medal in EuroBeachVolley
Maryna Hladun (32) and Tetiana Lazarenko (21) have become the first Ukrainian women`s team to reach the EuroBeachVolley gold medal match. They secured their spot with an impressive tie-break victory (15-21, 21-16, 15-11) over Paris Olympians and 2023 silver medalists Álvarez and Moreno, maintaining their undefeated streak of five wins in Düsseldorf.
As one of the sport`s rapidly ascending teams, Hladun and Lazarenko have already made history by guaranteeing Ukraine`s first women`s medal in this tournament. This follows Sergiy Popov and Eduard Reznik`s bronze medal among the men two years ago. This formidable partnership, formed in 2023, is showing significant improvement from their ninth-place finish last year.
This means so much to us and to Ukraine. We fought with all our hearts in every match. To know we`ve secured a medal, and now have a shot at gold, is an indescribable feeling. We hope to inspire many back home.
Maryna Hladun
Ukrainian Beach Volleyball Player
This final will be only the second international encounter between these two teams. In their previous match, at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Quintana Roo Elite event just over four months ago, Hladun and Lazarenko emerged victorious, defeating Vieira and Chamereau in straight sets during a qualifier.
