Beach Volleyball

Italian Beach Volleyball icons Lupo and Nicolai part ways

News

Article Thu, Oct 14 2021

Italian Beach Volleyball superstars Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo have confirmed that they are parting ways after playing together for more than 10 years – thus contesting as many as 105 international tournaments as a team in the process. Their resume includes – among other things – three #EuroBeachVolley titles (2014, 2016 and 2017), an Olympic silver medal (in 2016) and as many as 22 World Tour podium finishes, including three gold medals. After finishing fourth at last week’s World Tour Finals in Sardinia, they will continue their careers with different partners, with plans to remain in the sport at least up until the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Paolo and Daniele have written Beach Volleyball history for Italy in many ways – they claimed the very first men’s European title for an Italian team, as well as the first gold medal from a World Tour event – and their silver from Rio 2016 remains the only Olympic Beach Volleyball medal for Italy to this date. Moreover, Lupo/Nicolai were the first Italian team to top the World Ranking and the first duo from their country to compete at three straight Olympics.  

It all started in April of 2011 at a World Tour event held in Brasilia – followed by 10 years filled with unprecedented success, with Beach Volleyball becoming more of a household sport for many Italians thanks to the achievements of Paolo and Daniele.

“After spending so many years together, we both felt the need to try something new, even though this was not an easy decision to make. We still feel the motivation to achieve something and possibly do even better than we have done thus far. We still remain friends and hold each other in high esteem.”

Paolo Nicolai

“It has been a great journey, and we have grown together as athletes and men at the same time. Ours was an interesting project – we now turn the page and take up a new challenge. Obviously, it feels a bit strange to part ways after so many years, but we do so because we have new challenges to tackle. I wish Paolo all the best in his future endeavours.”

Daniele Lupo

The only missing piece at this stage is the name of their respective new partners for the three years leading up to Paris 2024.

“We will be forever grateful to Paolo and Daniele for the many moments of joy they have provided us with and their legacy will last eternally. Their choice to part ways is obviously a sad thing but in sport, you always have to look forward to the next challenge. If they feel like this is the right step, we acknowledge their decision and respect it. I wish Paolo and Daniele all the best for the next chapter in their already extraordinary careers.”

Giuseppe Manfredi
President of the Italian Volleyball Federation
Lupo/Nicolai portrayed with Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum at the end of their epic match at this year's EuroBeachVolley in Vienna

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