As 2023 draws to a close, let us look back at the highly successful 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships which provided hours of ‘edge-of-your-seat’ viewing for millions of fans worldwide.
For the first time in 20 years, the thrilling tournament was played outside of Europe and went to Latin America, with Mexico hosting the event for the first time in its history. Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner became the first Czech team in history to win an FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in either gender after topping the men’s podium at the Tlaxcala 2023 edition in Mexico. In addition, the women’s world title went to American pair Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng, the first for the country since 2009, when Jennifer Kessy and April Ross secured a place on the podium.
A total of 96 teams (48 per gender) from 38 different countries and all five Continental Confederations took part in the 14th edition of the World Championships.
The Opening Ceremony welcomed 7000 spectators in the stadium and more online
During the tournament, over 100,000 tickets were sold, and 250 hours of TV production were generated. The Opening Ceremony alone saw 7,000 spectators in the stands, and the event was broadcast live on major TV channels across Mexico. Outside of the court, 180 hours of various cultural activities were enjoyed by fans throughout the competition.
The trophy tour also visited all 60 municipalities in the state of Tlaxcala, as well as eight other states throughout the country. And, for the first time in history, a limited-edition match ball was created, featuring the rich heritage of Mexico. More than 1,000 mini balls and 300 special edition balls were sold onsite during the World Championships.
Men
Czechia’s Perusic and Schweiner had collected three Elite16 silvers on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour during the inaugural 2022 season and one more at EuroBeachVolley 2022, but 2023 was really their year. After earning their first Beach Pro Tour gold at the Uberlandia Elite16 in April and their second at the Paris Elite16 in September and October, they secured the world title in Tlaxcala, a stunning feat that surprised even Perusic and Schweiner themselves.
Ondrej Perusic setting in front of the packed stands during the men’s final in Tlaxcala
“It’s unreal! I really don’t know how to describe my feelings because I can’t quite understand them,” Perusic said after the final. “If I had to pick one word, it would be ‘pride’. I’m very proud of our entire team and everyone who contributed to our journey and who has been by our side since the beginning. This is a huge accomplishment not only for us, but for Czech beach volleyball, and I’m really proud to give this to everyone back at home. It’s a dream come true!”
At the tournament, 21-year-old Ahman and 22-year-old Hellvig settled for silver, bringing home Sweden’s first-ever medal in the history of the World Championships for either gender. This was also the case for 29-year-old Michal Bryl and 31-year-old Bartosz Losiak for Poland, who won the bronze medal in Tlaxcala. The two pairs reached the last four of the competition undefeated and experienced a three-set battle with each other in the other semifinal, in which the Swedish duo celebrated a 2-1 victory. The team from Poland then bounced back with a 2-0 sweep of the bronze medal match against Crabb and Brunner of the USA.
The 2023 World Championship men’s podium in Tlaxcala
Women
The top three seeds in the women’s lineup lived up to expectations and made it to the podium in Tlaxcala, but it was third-seeded USA’s Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng that made it to the top. The two athletes reunited late into the 2022 season and immediately won their first three Beach Pro Tour appearances, including the Finals in Doha. During the 2023 season, they had claimed Beach Pro Tour gold only once, back in March at the Tepic Elite16 in Mexico. However, at the World Championships in October, Hughes and Cheng put on a spectacular display, winning seven of their eight matches, and triumphed as champions.
Sara Hughes in a joust with Ana Patricia during the World Championship 2023 women’s final
“We just want to thank everybody that has helped us get here - our coaches, our trainers, our sponsors and our families,” said Hughes. “And also the Mexican fans, who created an amazing atmosphere here!”
It was the fifth time American women triumph on top of the world. Overall, they have now collected 13 World Championship medals. The silver medal, won by top-seeded 25-year-old Eduarda Santos Lisboa Duda and 26-year-old Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil, was the 18th medal for Brazilian women in the history of the World Championships. The world number one team reached the Tlaxcala 2023 final on an immaculate run of seven consecutive straight-set victories, crowned by a 2-0 semifinal win over Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallists Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho Del Solar of Australia.
Bronze medal winners 25-year-old Kristen Nuss and 26-year-old Taryn Kloth also won seven of the eight games they played in Mexico to claim their first World Championship medal. After losing to Hughes and Cheng in the semifinals, they recovered with a 2-1 comeback against the Aussies to clinch the final podium place.
The 2023 World Championship women’s podium in Tlaxcala
All FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2023 results and standings
Source : fivb.com
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