Elouan Chouikh-Barbez and Joadel Gardoque of France delivered a remarkable performance at the 2025 Itapema Beach Volleyball Challenge, clinching their first Elite-level title on the Beach Pro Tour. Entered as the 16th seed, the French duo overcame elite opponents to seize gold, highlighting their resilience and growing prowess on the international stage.
Key highlights from the men's competition include:
- A gritty semifinal win over Brazil's Andre Stein and Renato Lima.
- A dominant final victory against Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots, winning 2-0 (21-13, 21-19).
- This victory marks their second tour medal, following their earlier gold at the Futures event in Montpellier.
Plavins and Fokerots notched silver, achieving their best result yet in the Elite tier and earning their fifth podium finish on the tour. Brazil’s top-seeded team, Evandro Oliveira and Arthur Mariano Lanci, took bronze in an all-Brazilian matchup, maintaining strong host nation representation on the podium.
On the women's side, Brazil’s Carol Solberg and Rebecca Cavalcanti bounced back from an early loss to dominate the field. Their path to gold included:
- Six consecutive wins after an initial defeat.
- A commanding 2-0 (21-10, 21-10) win in the final over compatriots Talita Antunes and Taiana Lima.
Completing a Brazilian sweep in the women's event, Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes secured the bronze medal after a strong tournament run.
The 2025 Itapema Challenge concluded the Elite calendar for the Beach Pro Tour, featuring 32 teams per gender from 22 federations. The tournament served as a showcase for both seasoned athletes and promising new talent, illustrating the sport's dynamic growth worldwide.
A critical contributor to the success of emerging teams like France and Latvia was the support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative. With enhanced coaching and equipment support, the program demonstrates a committed effort to advance beach volleyball’s global presence. More about the program and Itapema results can be found on the official FIVB website.
