Historic Gold for England’s Bello Twins at Rio Elite16
In a stunning display of skill and determination, England’s Joaquin and Javier Bello claimed their first-ever Beach Pro Tour gold medal at the Elite16 event in Rio de Janeiro. The twin brothers, who started their journey from the qualifiers, capped off an incredible week with a dramatic 2-1 (22-24, 30-28, 15-13) victory over Argentina’s Nicolas and Tomas Capogrosso in the final. This historic win marks their first podium finish at the Elite16 level and their fourth overall on the Tour.
A Memorable Final
The gold medal match was a thrilling spectacle, with all three sets decided by the narrowest of margins. The first two sets went deep into overtime, with the Capogrosso brothers narrowly winning the first 24-22. The Bello twins fought back in the second, saving three match points before clinching it 30-28. The third set was equally intense, with Joaquin sealing the victory with a decisive spike.
Javier led the scoring with 33 points, all from attacks, while Joaquin contributed 24 points, including seven kill blocks and two aces. The Capogrosso brothers put up a valiant effort, with Nicolas scoring 31 points and Tomas adding 25, but they fell just short of their first gold medal.
“I can tell you one thing: all four players were really tired in this match,” Javier said after the final. “Especially I was gone, and I needed Joaquin today. And he came through! He is one of the best in the world. He is an amazing player.”
Joaquin added, “At the beginning of the year, we played a lot of Elite16s to try to qualify for the Olympics, and we said we just needed one win to get there. Well, it took a while, but we finally got it today!”
Silver for the Capogrosso Brothers
For Argentina’s Nicolas and Tomas Capogrosso, the silver medal marks their first Elite16 podium and their second runner-up finish on the Tour, following a Challenge-level silver in 2022. The fifth-seeded duo entered the final undefeated but couldn’t overcome the Bello twins in a match filled with drama and intensity.
Bronze for Latvia’s Plavins and Fokerots
Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots secured the bronze medal with a hard-fought 2-1 (21-18, 13-21, 15-11) victory over Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sørum. Fokerots was dominant at the net, scoring 28 points, including 23 kills and five blocks. Plavins added 13 points, all from attacks.
The bronze medal marks their first Elite16 podium and adds to their growing list of achievements, including a gold and a bronze from Futures events and the 2024 CEV European Championship title.
Semifinal Drama
The semifinals were equally thrilling, with both matches going to three sets. The Capogrosso brothers came from behind to defeat Plavins and Fokerots 2-1 (19-21, 21-16, 15-10), with Nicolas scoring a match-high 33 points.
In the other semifinal, the Bello twins staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Mol and Sørum 2-1 (18-21, 21-18, 15-12). Joaquin was instrumental, scoring 31 points, including 10 blocks, while Mol contributed 22 points for the Norwegians.
A Landmark Achievement
The Bello twins’ victory in Rio is a landmark moment for English beach volleyball, showcasing their growth and potential on the international stage. Their ability to overcome top-tier competition, including reigning Olympic champions, underscores their talent and determination.
As the Beach Pro Tour season continues, the Bello twins’ historic win will inspire future generations and solidify their place among the sport’s elite.
