The history of the European Championships in beach volleyball
Since 1993 the European Beach Volleyball Championships have taken place to determine the champions of Europe. While in 1993 only men competed, since 1994 the competition is also held for women at a separate location. The events have been combined since 1995. Austria is hosting the EuroBeachVolley for the third time. After Klagenfurt in 2013 and 2015, 2021 the showdown of the European beach elite took place in Vienna for the first time.
2023 Vienna will be hosting again the biggest event in European beach volleyball and will welcome the beach stars and beach fans.
When thinking back, it is particularly the memories of the gold medal won by the Schwaiger sisters in 2013 that causes the heart of the Austrian beach volleyball fans to beat faster at the very thought of a home European Championship. But, in search for a top Austrian result, there is no need to look back this far: In 2019, Martin Ermacora and Moritz Pristauz were able to top off their career so far with a bronze medal at the European Championships in Moscow. In addition, the Austrian beach teams are ready for revenge after the two 4th places at the European Team-Championships 2022 (women & men)!
In recent years, especially the dominance of the Norwegian team Mol/Sørum cannot be denied in the men’s competition. With their triumph in Vienna in 2021 they secured their forth European title in a row. In Munich 2022, the Swedish wonderkids Åhman/Hellvig took the gold medal at their European Championship debut, the silver medal went to Perusic/Schweiner. Mol/Sørum won the match for bronze and thus have been on the podium every time at the last five European Championships.
In the women’s singles, the Swiss Team of Joana Heidrich and Anouk Vergé-Depré was able to claim their first gold medal at the CEV European Championships in Jurmala. In 2021, their compatriots Hüberli/Brunner were victorious and also won the title for the first time. Hüberli/Brunner were also convincing in Munich 2022, but in a tight final the Latvians Graudina/Samoilova suceeded. The two outstanding beach athletes thus crowned themselves European champions for the second time after 2019.
But how will the race for the title at the A1 CEV EuroBeachVolley Vienna develop in 2023? Will Mol/Sørum continue their dominance in the mecca of beach volleyball and win their fifth title or will the young Swedes also strike in 2023? Can the Latvians defend their title or will Hüberli/Brunner take revenge? Or will the European Championships on home soil and the support of the crowd lead our Austrian teams to a place on the podium? We will find out – from August 2 to 6 in Vienna!
The best athletes & nations
Most successful woman at the EuroBeachVolley:
- Laura Ludwig (GER): 4x EuropeanEuro
- Champion, 9 medals
Most successful man at the EuroBeachVolley:
- Jonas Reckermann (GER), 4x European Champion, 1x Vice European Champion, 1x bronze
- Anders Mol (NOR): 4x European Champion, 1x bronze
- Christian Sørum (NOR): 4x European Champion, 1x bronze
European Champions from Austria:
- Berger/Doppler 2003 in Alanya
- Doppler/Gartmayer 2007 in Valencia
- Schwaiger/Schwaiger 2013 in Klagenfurt
Nations ranking:
Women: Men:
- Germany (8 titles) 1. Norway (6 titles)
- Italy (5 titles) 2. Germany (5 titles)
- Netherlands, Greece, Latvia, 3. Switzerland, Netherlands (4 titles each)
Switzerland (3 titles each)
