Sweden etched its name into the history books at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Adelaide, Australia, by claiming its first-ever world title. The golden duo of David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig, who also won Olympic gold at Paris 2024, secured the championship with a straight-sets victory (25-23, 21-19) over fellow Swedes Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson in the final.
A Historic All-Swedish Final
This unprecedented all-Swedish final marked a significant milestone for the country’s beach volleyball program. Åhman and Hellvig, aged just 23 and 24, became the youngest men’s world champions in the sport’s history, breezing through the tournament without dropping a single set. Their semifinal performance dismantled the experienced German pair Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler.
Meanwhile, the silver medalists, Holting Nilsson and Andersson, made history in their own right. At only 20 and 19 years of age, they were the youngest team ever to reach a World Championship final. Their journey included a stunning semifinal win over France’s Teo Rotar and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat.
France and Germany Round Out the Podium
In the battle for third place, France’s Rotar and Gauthier-Rat emerged victorious over Germany with a commanding 2-0 win (21-15, 21-15). This bronze medal represented France’s first podium finish at a Beach Volleyball World Championship, another notable outcome from the tournament.
A Tournament to Remember
The 2025 championship featured a diverse lineup:
- 48 men’s teams
- 28 participating countries
- 108 high-level matches
Sweden’s sweep of both the gold and silver positions places it among a select group of nations—before now, only Brazil had accomplished the feat of an all-national final in this prestigious event.
Significance for Sweden and Beyond
This championship not only celebrates the individual successes of Sweden's top pairings but also signifies a deeper evolution of beach volleyball within the nation. With Olympic champions and emerging talents excelling side by side, Sweden has officially cemented itself as a global power in the sport.
For more details on Sweden’s historic victory, visit the official summary from the FIVB website.
