Åhman and Hellvig start 2026 with João Pessoa Elite gold

Reigning Olympic and world champions David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden missed no time reassuring their position as the top team in the world by triumphing in the first Elite event of the 2026 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour season, which came to an end on Sunday in João Pessoa.

The European superstars topped the podium at the Cabo Branco Beach in Brazil, with second-placed French Rémi Daubas and Calvin Aye and third-placed Americans Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh by their sides.

• Watch the João Pessoa Elite replays on VBTV

Back on the sand for the first time since their victory at last year's FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in November, Åhman and Hellvig were unstoppable this week in João Pessoa, winning their seven matches with only one set dropped. In the gold medal match, they downed Daubas and Aye in straight sets (21-16, 21-18).

"The first event of the season is always special, and we really wanted to give it our all," Hellvig remarked. "We were expecting a lot of wind and a lot of heat for this tournament, and we for sure got that, and we're very happy that we managed to play very well in every match."

This was the ninth gold won by the Swedish in Beach Pro Tour events since 2022 and the second in João Pessoa, where they also triumphed in 2023.

Second-placed Daubas and Aye also returned to a familiar spot in the Brazilian city on Sunday, taking silver for a second straight time.

Beach Pro Tour João Pessoa Elite - Results

Playing their first tournament as partners, Americans Crabb and Benesh returned home with a medal after Brazilians Evandro Gonçalves and Arthur Lanci forfeited their bronze medal match due to physical issues.

From Brazil, the Beach Pro Tour heads to Mexico next week, with the city of Tlaxcala hosting a Challenge tournament from Wednesday to Sunday. The next Elite event will also be in Brazil, with Saquarema welcoming the best teams in the world from April 8-12.

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