French duo Rémi Bassereau and Calvin Aye and Dutch team Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot made an impressive impact at the Joao Pessoa Elite Beach Pro Tour event in Brazil by reaching the podium. This prestigious tournament, hosted in Brazil, featured 32 top-tier teams in both the men's and women's divisions, hailing from 24 different nations.
Bassereau & Aye clinched the silver medal, marking their first podium finish at the Elite level and second overall in their Pro Tour journey. Their path to the finals was a display of resilience and skill, beginning in the qualifiers as the 21st seed. Most notably, they defeated high-ranked compatriots Brouwer & van de Velde in a thrilling semifinal.
The bronze medal went to Boermans & De Groot, who delivered a solid performance against their fellow Dutchmen Brouwer & van de Velde, winning in straight sets. This result represents their 11th podium finish on the Beach Pro Tour, underlining their position as one of Europe’s most consistent and competitive teams.
Home-court advantage favored Brazil’s Evandro Oliveira & Arthur Mariano Lanci, who secured gold. This victory was their fourth tournament win on the Tour—all of which have taken place on Brazilian soil, showcasing their dominance and support at home.
In the women’s competition, the United States secured both gold and silver. Kelly Cheng & Molly Shaw triumphed with an unbeaten run, earning their first gold medal together, while Terese Cannon & Megan Kraft finished as runners-up. Brazil’s Ana Patricia Ramos & Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa earned bronze, their fourth consecutive Elite-level third-place finish.
Support through FIVB Volleyball Empowerment
Both France and the Netherlands have benefited from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, an initiative offering funding and coaching support aimed at strengthening national beach volleyball teams. The program has provided critical backing including professional coaching, training infrastructure, and equipment grants.
Looking Ahead
The next Elite event on the Beach Pro Tour is scheduled for September 24–28 in Rio de Janeiro, promising more high-stakes competition among the world’s top beach volleyball talent.
Read the full report on the official FIVB website: Bassereau & Aye and Boermans & De Groot reach Joao Pessoa Elite podium.
