Empowerment-supported squads made a substantial impact at the Gstaad Elite stop of the Beach Pro Tour, seizing an impressive four podium finishes in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Despite fierce global competition, only the gold medalists from the United States and Sweden managed to block a full Empowerment sweep.
Highlights from Gstaad
In the men's division:
- Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan dominated the court, claiming gold in a straight-sets victory over Sweden’s Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson.
- Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands battled through three intense sets to overcome Brazil’s George Wanderley and Andre Stein, securing the bronze medal.
On the women’s side:
- American duo Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher secured gold with a straight-sets win over Latvia’s Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova.
- Anouk Verge-Depre and Zoe Verge-Depre delighted the home crowd in Switzerland, capturing bronze after a strong performance on familiar sand.
Empowerment Program’s Role
The FIVB's Volleyball Empowerment program continues to yield tangible results. Nations like Qatar, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland—beneficiaries of this initiative—rose above a competitive field of 64 teams representing 22 countries. Through enhanced coaching and access to top-tier equipment, these teams have cultivated elite-level skill and resilience.
What’s Next?
This sweeping success points to a broader trend of emerging global talent and high-performance development. All eyes now turn to the next Elite stop in Montreal, scheduled for August 13–17, where competition is expected to intensify even further.
For the full article, visit the FIVB official site.
