Åhman/Hellvig awarded Bragdguldet 2025
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Beach Volleyball superstars David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig are being awarded Svenska Dagbladet’s (SvD) Bragdguldet 2025. “For World Championship gold after a dream final – groundbreaking brilliance and a historic achievement,” is how the jury motivates its decision. “It feels absolutely fantastic, we did not expect this,” says Åhman via video link from Australia in an interview with SvD.
In 2018, David and Jonatan were awarded the ‘little’ Bragdguldet for their Youth Olympic Games gold in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This time, it’s the ‘big’ Bragdguldet. The award comes on the back of the World Championship gold in Adelaide and the sensational all-Swedish final against the “Icemen”, 19-year-old Elmer Andersson and 20-year-old Jacob Hölting Nilsson.
After two tight and spectacular sets (25-23, 21-19), Åhman/Hellvig were able to celebrate their first World Championship gold and in doing so complete their collection of championship triumphs.
Bragdguldet is awarded by Svenska Dagbladet for “the year’s foremost Swedish sporting achievement” and has since 1925 been regarded as one of the most prestigious prizes in Swedish sport. The fact that the two Beach Volleyball stars are now being written into the exclusive group of Bragdguldet winners is a recognition both of the World Championship gold and of the journey they have made to get there.
Behind the success is an extremely strong Swedish team. Head coach Rasmus Jonsson and legend Anders Kristiansson have, together with Åhman/Hellvig, over several years developed and refined the style of play that has made the entire Beach Volleyball world turn its eyes toward Sweden. Jacob Hölting Nilsson’s and Elmer Andersson’s incredible breakthrough season is the latest proof of the team’s pioneering methodology and successful work.
Together, the six of them have shown that Sweden can not only compete, but also lead the development in the sport.
Rasmus Jonsson“We work extremely hard every day and try to train better and smarter than the world elite. We have the two best young teams in the world. The fact that both of them reach a World Championship final in a global sport is absolutely incredible. Today, everyone should be pleased – tomorrow we get back to work.”
The ‘Volleyball wave’ keeps rolling
The World Championship gold in Adelaide meant that Åhman/Hellvig have now ticked off all the major titles: World Championships, Olympic Games, and European Championships. Even before the World Championships, the duo were reigning Olympic champions from Paris 2024 and double European champions (2022 and 2023), with a string of podium finishes at the highest level of the World Tour.
That Bragdguldet now ends up in Åhman/Hellvig’s hands is not just a victory for the team, but for the entire Swedish Volleyball movement. The award shows that Volleyball and Beach Volleyball have taken their place in the absolute inner circle of Swedish sporting awareness – in the country’s biggest arenas, in living rooms in front of the TV, and in the newsrooms.
The ‘Volleyball wave’ that has surged forward in recent years – with championship golds, attendance records, and growing interest across the country – now gains even more momentum. Already at the end of January 2026 there will be a chance for Swedish fans to cheer for their heroes on home soil, when they take over Avicii Arena in Stockholm for Queen & King of the Court.