The recent Baden Challenge, part of the prestigious Beach Pro Tour, concluded with a remarkable showcase of global beach volleyball talent. Held in Austria, this event featured 56 men’s and 56 women’s teams representing 32 countries, and highlighted the growing success of teams bolstered by the FIVB’s Volleyball Empowerment program.
Women's Medalists
- Gold: Linda Bock and Louisa Lippmann (Germany) – undefeated throughout the tournament, not dropping a single set in six matches.
- Silver: Mila Konink and Raisa Schoon (Netherlands)
- Bronze: Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil (Ukraine) – secured victory over Finland’s Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen.
Men's Medalists
- Gold: Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson (Sweden) – achieved their fifth Beach Pro Tour title with an unbeaten streak, defeating Germany’s Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler in the final.
- Silver: Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler (Germany)
- Bronze: Remi Bassereau and Calvin Aye (France) – earned their spot on the podium with a win against the U.S. duo Miles Evans and Chase Budinger.
Impact of Volleyball Empowerment
Many medal-winning teams benefited from the FIVB’s Volleyball Empowerment initiative, which provides coaching and equipment support to national federations. Countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Ukraine saw strong results thanks to this program’s continued investment in athlete development.
Looking Ahead
- Next Event: Montreal Elite (Canada), August 13–17
- Upcoming Location: Busan Gwangalli Futures (Korea)
The success at the Baden Challenge affirms the increasing global reach and competitiveness of beach volleyball. As the Beach Pro Tour continues, fans can expect even more thrilling performances from emerging and seasoned international teams alike.
For more details, visit the official FIVB report.
