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However, this was not an easy journey at all, since they needed to fight for three close sets already in the semi with Austrian qualifiers Maximilian Trummer and Felix Friedl (16-21, 21-19, 15-13). After that, they lost the opening set of the final to Serbia’s Djordje Klasnic and Lazar Kolaric but fought hard in the second set and cancelled a match point for their opponents before securing a 14-21, 26-24, 15-13 victory!
“We started this final very badly but thanks to the fans we did not give up and we could eventually win the gold medal. It is just crazy,” said Ayé.
Arnaud Gauthier-Rat (FRA)“Finally! After finishing second last year, we had to win this time. Many thanks to the public for their energy since they supported us in this rather challenging tournament!”
Ayé and Gauthier-Rat struggled in pool play where they lost to Trummer/Friedl but eventually found a way to remain in contention for the medals via the playoff round contested on Saturday morning.
The Serbians Klasnic/Kolaric had to settle for the silver medal. In the bronze medal match, #EuroBeachVolleyU22 silver medal winners Ardis Bedritis and Arturs Rinkevics of Latvia beat Trummer and Friedl 2-1 (11-21, 21-12, 15-6) to complete the podium.