Brazil’s men and women top podium once again in Berlin 

Enjoying a solid return in 2012 after a four-year absence, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour once again returned to Berlin, Germany for the Berlin smart Grand Slam. The event, the seventh Grand Slam event of 2013, was held from August 6 to 11. It was the 14th time the FIVB World Tour held the men’s tournament in Berlin and the eighth time the city hosted the women’s competition since 2000.

At the end of the six day competition Brazil’s men’s and women’s teams once again topped the podium with Vitor Felipe and Evandro Goncalves taking gold in the men’s competition and Talita Antunes and Taiana Lima in the women’s.

Men’s competition

Brazil’s Vitor Felipe and Evandro Goncalves beat Russia’s Konstantin Semenov and Viacheslav Krasilnikov 2-1 (21-23, 21-13, 15-15) in 53 minutes in the men’s gold medal match.

In the bronze medal match Spain’s Pablo Herrera Allepuz and Adrián Gavira Collado recovered from their loss in the semifinal to claim the bronze medal after beating Italian qualifiers Andrea Tomatis and Alex Ranghieri 2-0 (21-19, 21-16).

Women’s Competition

Brazil’s Talita Antunes and Taiana Lima fought back from four match points down to beat Germany’s Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler 2-1 (16-21, 23-21, 15-12) to win gold.

USA’s Jennifer Fopma and Brooke Sweat won their first ever World Tour medals when they beat Czech Republic’s Marketa Slukova and Kristyna Kolocova 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-12) in the bronze medal match.