Beach volleyball continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness, attracting both players and fans around the world. Today we’re going to talk about the biggest names in beach volleyball today!
With its exciting combination of skill, strategy and endurance, the sport promises unforgettable moments at the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
Athletes from Brazil, the United States, Norway and other countries will continue to raise the level of competition, ensuring a high-quality spectacle for all spectators.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
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Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today: historical context
A natural variation on traditional volleyball, the sport practiced on the sand was created in 1895 in the United States.
Enthused by the idea of playing the sport on the beach in California, the first players began to play serves and smashes in 1920.
Little by little, the sport gained followers inside and outside the United States until, in 1947, the first official beach volleyball tournament took place.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
Three years later, the first circuit was created, consisting of stages held on five beaches in California.
The success of this initiative led to the founding, in 1960, of the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA), which boosted the practice, consolidating the sport worldwide in the 1980s.
Attracting several renowned court players, the sport had its first professional circuit in Australia. In 1996, at the Atlanta Games, beach volleyball officially became an Olympic sport.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
In Brazil, the sport began to be practiced in the 1930s, in an amateur way, on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, in Rio de Janeiro.
Over the following decades, beach volleyball gained thousands of fans in the country, but was seen as a simple weekend diversion.
This changed in 1986, when Hollywood Volley was held in Copacabana and Santos (SP), with the participation of Brazilian and international athletes.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
After Hollywood Volley, beach volleyball was made official by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and had its first World Championship played on the sands of Ipanema in 1987.
The North American duo Sinjin Smith/Randy Stoklos won the title, while the Brazilian stars of the Silver Generation of court volleyball, Renan and Montanaro, were the best-placed Brazilians, finishing in third place.
This paved the way for the evolution of a sport that today occupies a prominent position on the Brazilian sports scene.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today: rules and disciplines
Beach volleyball is played on a sand court 16 meters long by 8 meters wide, divided by a net. Each team consists of two players, with no substitutions allowed.
Scoring
The matches are played in best of three sets. The first two sets are up to 21 points, with at least two points difference. If a third set is needed, it goes to 15 points.
Touches on the ball
Each team has up to three touches to return the ball to the opponent’s field. Touches can include passes, cuts and blocks.
Positioning
There are no fixed positions and players can move freely around the court.
Service
The serve can be performed from anywhere behind the baseline, and the player can choose between a hanging or standing serve.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today: curiosities
- Beach volleyball arrived in France in an unusual way. In 1927, a French businessman was in California and brought the novelty to his nudist beach in Francoville.
- The first Beach Volleyball World Championship took place on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro in 1987.
- In the first four editions of the Olympic Games, Brazil and the United States shared all the beach volleyball medals, except for Sydney 2000, when Australia’s athletes dominated the competition.
- In a three-set match, an athlete performs an average of 300 jumps.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today: Brazil’s Olympic medals
Gold Medals
- Atlanta 1996: Jaqueline Silva and Sandra Pires
- Athens 2004: Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego
- Rio 2016: Alisson Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt
Silver Medals
- Atlanta 1996: Mônica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel
- Sydney 2000: Ricardo Santos and José Marco Melo / Shelda Bedê and Adriana Behar
- Athens 2004: Shelda Bedê and Adriana Behar
- Beijing 2008: Márcio Araújo and Fábio Luiz Magalhães
- Londres 2012: Alisson Cerutti and Emanuel Rego
- Rio 2016: Ágatha Rippel and Bárbara Seixas
Bronze medals
- Sydney 2000: Adriana Samuel and Sandra Pires
- Beijing 2008: Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego
- London 2012: Juliana Felisberta and Larissa França
Read on to find out who the biggest names in beach volleyball today are!
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today (Men – World)
Anders Mol and Christian Sørum (Norway)
This Norwegian duo is currently one of the most dominant on the world stage, winners of several major titles, including the 2022 World Championship.
Oleg Stoyanovskiy and Viacheslav Krasilnikov (Russia)
World champions and silver medalists at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, they are a constant force on the international circuit.
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today (Men – Brazil)
Alison Cerutti and Álvaro Filho
Alison, Olympic champion at Rio 2016, has formed a new partnership with Álvaro Filho, and together they have achieved good results on the world circuit.
Evandro Gonçalves and Bruno Schmidt
Bruno, Olympic champion at Rio 2016 with Alison, now plays with Evandro, known for his powerful serve.
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today (Women – World)
April Ross and Alix Klineman (USA)
This American duo won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and has proven to be one of the most consistent on the circuit.
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan (Canada)
World champions in 2019, this Canadian duo is one of the strongest competitors today.
Biggest names in Beach Volleyball today (Women – Brazil)
Ágatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa
Ágatha, silver medalist at Rio 2016, now plays with Duda, one of the young promises of Brazilian beach volleyball.
Ana Patrícia Ramos and Rebecca Silva
This duo has stood out on the international stage, with consistent performances in important tournaments.
Athletes with a chance of medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, some athletes stand out as favorites:
- Anders Mol and Christian Sørum (Norway): With their winning record, they are strong contenders for gold.
- April Ross and Alix Klineman (USA): The experience and chemistry of this duo make them strong contenders.
- Ágatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa (Brazil): The combination of experience and youth could lead this pair to the podium.
- Alison Cerutti and Álvaro Filho (Brazil): With Alison’s experience and Álvaro’s skill, this pair has a good chance of a medal.
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