The Mentor and the Prodigy: How Pļaviņš and Fokerots defy time on the sand

When Latvia’s Martins Pļaviņš and Kristiāns Fokerots stood on top of the podium at the CEV EuroBeachVolley 2024, they didn't just win a trophy - they rewrote the beach volleyball textbook.

Pļaviņš, a London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, is 41 years old. His partner, Fokerots, is just 21. It is a partnership separated by two decades, yet completely united on the sand. But this legendary pairing almost didn't happen.

"His partner was injured and he offered me to play," Martins reveals with a chuckle. "At the beginning, I said no. But after one month of him stalking me, I finally said: 'Okay, let’s do it.'"

That reluctant "yes" sparked one of the most remarkable stories in modern beach volleyball.

The secret to 41: practice what you coach

To compete at the elite level in your 40s requires more than just talent; it requires a great commitment to physical preservation. For Martins, the secret is a mixture of intense discipline, a high-protein diet, and a younger perspective.

"Even my strength coach is younger than me. He has new ideas that work. He helped me recover after my knee surgery and keeps me in shape."

Interestingly, Martins has another secret weapon: coaching.

"I coach under-age girls in beach volleyball, and I find myself telling them the exact same things I need to tell myself," Martins explains. "It works all the way. When I’m playing, I think, 'Okay, good, I just told my players to do this, so now I need to do it, too.' I am constantly thinking about the game."

For the young prodigy Kristiāns, watching his legendary partner’s work ethic is the ultimate daily lesson.

There is not a moment when you are perfect. Even at 41, Martins is still improving every day. That’s what everybody should do."

Bridging the 20-year gap

On paper, a two-decade age gap might seem like a recipe for mismatching lifestyles. But off the court, the Latvians keep things remarkably simple.

"I don’t think our routines are that different," Kristiāns says. "When we are at competition, we pretty much do the same things. It has always been easy - there has never been a problem."

For Martins, the gap completely vanishes the moment they step onto the sand. "I don’t feel the age difference. In practice, we both need to run a lot for the balls. If one player doesn’t run, the team loses. It’s not about age; it’s about who does what on the court. It's about the connection."

And tactically, they are a perfect puzzle. "The huge advantage is that Kristiāns can stop taller players with his strong block, and then I can play defence to dig up some balls," Martins says.

From "Reserves" to European Kings

Their crowning moment came at EuroBeachVolley 2024 - a tournament they weren't even supposed to play in.

"We were on the reserve list just a week before the championship," Martins recalls. "We had missed out on the Olympics because I didn't have enough points after my surgery, so we had a month off. We arrived hungry, relaxed, and with zero pressure. We figured every game we won was just a bonus. We did that seven times in a row! We got a bit lucky, everything went our way, and we grabbed the gold."

Now, their mindset remains completely unshakable - no matter the score. When asked who resets the team's focus during tough moments, the answer is simple: they both do, because they look forward to improving while playing.

"Every day is a next chance, a new opportunity," he smiles. "There is nothing to lose. Especially at 41, I can only win."