Swedish beach volleyball champions David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig have initiated the 2026 Beach Pro Tour season impressively by securing the gold medal at the Elite16 tournament in João Pessoa, Brazil. The Olympic and world champions demonstrated their dominance by defeating the French pair Rémi Daubas and Calvin Aye in straight sets (21-16, 21-18) in the final held at Cabo Branco Beach.

This victory in João Pessoa marks Åhman and Hellvig’s ninth gold in Beach Pro Tour events since 2022, underscoring their prominence in the sport. Their exceptional form is evident as they dropped only one set throughout the tournament, continuing their success after winning the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship last November.

The French competitors Daubas and Aye achieved another familiar outcome, securing silver for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, American players Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh, a new partnership, achieved an impressive bronze finish after the Brazilian team withdrew from the match.

Following the João Pessoa Elite16 event, the Beach Pro Tour will continue in Tlaxcala, Mexico, for the upcoming Challenge tournament, with another Elite16 competition scheduled in Saquarema, Brazil, from April 8-12. These events form part of the current Beach Volleyball season, where top athletes compete fiercely for championship titles and strive to enhance their global rankings.

For more information, you can read the full article on the official Volleyball World website here.