Germany and France showcased their emerging beach volleyball talent at the 2025 Madrid Futures tournament as their women’s teams claimed top honors. The competition, part of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour, served as an important platform for youth development and international exposure.
Gold for Germany
German duo Janne Uhl and Paula Schurholz clinched their first Beach Pro Tour gold medal with a thrilling 2-1 win in the final over France’s Alex Merle and Anouk Dupin. Despite being seeded ninth, the Germans only dropped one match—against Spanish Olympians Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno—throughout their six-match campaign.
Silver Success for France
The French team of Merle and Dupin reached the final undefeated until falling short in the gold match. Their semifinal came via walkover after an injury to the Spanish duo. Even with the anticlimactic finish to the semifinals, the silver marks a major achievement for the French pair, as they take home their first international medal.
Bronze for Slovenia
Bronze went to Slovenia’s Tjasa Kotnik and Maja Marolt after a forfeit win due to injury by Alvarez and Moreno. This is the Slovenians’ second career medal on tour, solidifying their growth and consistency on the circuit.
Wider Significance
The event drew 27 teams from 16 countries, underlining its importance in nurturing young talent across the sport. It is part of the FIVB’s broader Volleyball Empowerment initiative, which offers crucial support such as coaching and equipment funding to member federations. Nations like Germany and France have clearly benefited from this support, using it to enhance their development pipelines.
Looking Ahead
The next stops on the tour will be:
- Spiez, Switzerland (May 21–25)
- Wuhan Qingshan, China (May 22–25)
As the tour continues, fans can expect more breakout performances from the sport’s rising stars.
