David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig made history for Sweden by capturing their nation's first-ever men’s beach volleyball world title at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2025 in Adelaide, Australia.
The final was an all-Swedish affair, marking a rare occurrence in the tournament's history. Åhman and Hellvig triumphed over fellow countrymen Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson in straight sets (25-23, 21-19). This groundbreaking victory adds to their impressive resume, which already includes an Olympic gold medal from Paris 2024.
Historic Milestones
- First world beach volleyball title for Sweden, male or female
- Youngest champions in the sport at just 23 and 24 years old
- Only the second nation—after Brazil—to compete with two teams in the gold medal match
Despite a turbulent start, with two losses in the pool phase, Åhman and Hellvig rebounded strongly in the knockout rounds. Their resilience and dynamic play illustrated why they are now among the elite in international beach volleyball.
Support and Development
The Swedish duo’s rise has been significantly bolstered by the FIVB’s Volleyball Empowerment initiative. The Swedish Volleyball Association received $84,000 in funding, which went toward coaching and expert collaborations. This support has proven invaluable in reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Other Triumphs in Adelaide
France also celebrated a historic moment as Téo Rotar and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat clinched the nation’s first podium finish in the competition. They secured bronze with a straight-sets win (21-15, 21-15) over Germany’s Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler.
The 2025 championships highlighted the expanding competitiveness of global beach volleyball and the positive impact of targeted support for rising national teams.
Read the full coverage from the official FIVB website.
