In a significant victory for Dutch beach volleyball, Katja Stam and Raïsa Schoon have secured a coveted place for the Netherlands in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. They achieved this milestone by winning the 2026 CEV EuroBeachVolley championship in Stare Jabłonki, Poland.

Stam and Schoon demonstrated unwavering consistency, culminating in a dominant straight-sets triumph over Spain's Sofía Izuzquiza and Tania Moreno Matveeva, with scores of 21-13 and 21-11. This victory marks their first European title and secures the Netherlands' direct path to LA28, as winners of this continental event earn an Olympic quota for their National Olympic Committees.

Their success builds on previous European podium finishes, having taken silver and bronze in the 2021 and 2022 tournaments. This championship win reinforces the Netherlands' strong presence in international beach volleyball and raises expectations for their performance in the upcoming Olympic Games.

The bronze in the European championship was claimed by reigning world champions Tīna Graudiņa and Anastasija Samoilova of Latvia, showcasing the event's high level of competition. As Stam and Schoon prepare for LA28, their victory underscores the competitive spirit and skill thriving in European beach volleyball today.

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