Agatha Bednarczuk and Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa will not be together when the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour begins in 2022 after the Brazilians announced the end of their five-year partnership.
Agatha and Duda to go separate ways in 2022
The Brazilians announce end to five-year partnership
Published 08:16, 12 Oct 2021
Agatha and Duda tap hands during last week's World Tour Finals
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour's Most Outstanding Player in 2018 and 2019, the 23-year-old Duda will join forces with 24-year-old Ana Patricia Ramos, with whom she partnered in the past to win the 2014 Youth Olympics and the 2016 and 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships. A Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist, the 38-year-old Agatha hasn’t revealed her future plans yet, but she said in the past she would consider pausing her career to start a family after the Tokyo Olympics.
“I can’t thank Agatha and our coaching staff enough for everything they’ve done for me over the last five years,” Duda said. “A lot of my dreams became reality with Agatha by my side, especially the one of competing at the Olympics. I learned a lot from her. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to play with her, and all the memories we’ve built have a special place in my heart. Everything we did together was amazing and unique.”
Partners since 2017, the Brazilians played in 42 international events together and won medals in 21 of them, including seven golds. Perhaps their most remarkable victory took place at the 2018 World Tour Finals in Hamburg. They also won 14 titles on the Brazilian National Tour.
Agatha and Duda finished fifth at this year’s edition of the World Tour Finals, in Sardinia, last week, and were ninth at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this season. They are set to end their partnership with their team sitting at the top of the FIVB World Rankings.
“These were five years of immense dedication,” Agatha reflected. “We went through some difficult moments, which made us better, but also through many wonderful ones, especially our victories. Playing with Duda made me a better player but, above anything, a better person. I was very fortunate to be with her when she was experiencing several situations for the first time, and those ended up becoming special moments for me as well. I wish her and every member of our team all the best.”
Agatha and Duda will play another four tournaments before they split, including a four-star World Tour event in Itapema from November 10-14. They will also participate in the next Brazilian Tour events together – from October 19-24, November 3-7 and December 1-5.
