Olympic beach volleyball stars Melissa Humana-Paredes of Canada and Esteban Grimalt of Chile recently captivated audiences at a fashion event in Milan, stepping outside the court to become faces of national pride and style. The two athletes took part in a special showcase linked to the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Held at Clubhouse 26, the fashion show was hosted by the International Olympic Committee and featured representatives from various sports modeling attire designed for performance and ceremonial use by their respective Olympic teams.

Melissa Humana-Paredes shined at the event following her historic silver medal win at Paris 2024, where she partnered with Brandie Wilkerson to become the first Canadian women’s beach volleyball pair to medal at the Olympics. Previously, she had achieved a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Esteban Grimalt, meanwhile, brought his veteran experience to the spotlight. Alongside his cousin Marco Grimalt, he has been a consistent figure in international beach volleyball, competing in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. Their participation marked Chile’s first-ever beach volleyball representation at the Olympic level.

The event fused athleticism and fashion, illustrating how Olympic athletes today function not only as sports icons but as broader cultural ambassadors. The increasing visibility of beach volleyball in such arenas demonstrates the sport's growing global appeal and influence.

For more details, visit the original article on the FIVB website: Melissa Humana-Paredes & Esteban Grimalt at Milano Cortina 2026 Fashion Show.