David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Bragdguldet, Sweden’s highest national sports honor, after a year defined by landmark victories on the world stage.
Presented annually by Svenska Dagbladet, the Bragdguldet recognizes the most outstanding Swedish sports achievement of the year. Åhman and Hellvig earned this distinction by clinching gold at the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, triumphing in an all-Swedish final against teammates Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson.
This world title followed their impressive gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, completing a remarkable double that underscores Sweden's growing beach volleyball legacy. Once seen as an underdog in the sport, Sweden now stands as a powerhouse with two elite men's teams dominating international competitions.
Rising Stars Turned Global Champions
Åhman, 23, and Hellvig, 24, first drew global attention by winning gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Since then, their trajectory has been marked by:
- Consistent podium finishes on the Beach Pro Tour
- Back-to-back European Championship titles in 2022 and 2023
- Accumulation of 18 Beach Pro Tour medals, including 11 golds
Currently ranked No. 2 in the world, they share the top ranking points with fellow countrymen Holting Nilsson and Andersson, signaling a new era of beach volleyball excellence for Sweden.
More Than an Individual Achievement
The Bragdguldet not only celebrates Åhman and Hellvig's superb season but also highlights the rapid ascent of beach volleyball in Swedish sports culture. What was once a fringe discipline is now enjoying mainstream recognition, thanks to the groundbreaking performances of these young athletes.
To read more about their achievement, visit the official article on the FIVB website.
