French beach volleyball duo Elouan Chouik and Joadel Gardoque have made a significant breakthrough by qualifying for their first semifinal at the Elite16 level of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, held in Itapema, Brazil. Their gripping performance on Saturday, December 6, 2025, marks a milestone in their young careers.
The 22- and 23-year-old athletes stunned fans and competitors alike with two impressive wins:
- A straight-set victory over Brazil’s George Wanderley and Saymon Barbosa.
- A hard-fought three-set triumph against American brothers Taylor and Trevor Crabb.
This is only their second appearance in an Elite16 event. Their debut came just two months prior in Cape Town, where they placed 13th. The French duo have been playing together only since late 2024, with their previous top result being a gold medal at a Futures-level event in Montpellier.
Next, Chouik and Gardoque will face Brazilians André Loyola and Renato Lima in the semifinals. The other semifinal features Brazil’s Evandro Gonçalves and Arthur Lanci taking on Latvia’s duo Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots.
Hosted on Meia Praia Beach, the Itapema Elite16 is one of the premier competitions on the global beach volleyball circuit. The finals are scheduled for Sunday at 17:00 local time (20:00 UTC), with the bronze medal match launching at 15:00. The event offers valuable ranking points and momentum as teams gear up for the 2025 season.
For full event details and results, visit the official Volleyball World website.
