Ukraine and France win their first titles

With countries winning gold for the first time in both genders, the 2025 edition of the U22 European Championship came to an end on Sunday in Baden, displaying again the bright future of beach volleyball on the continent.

The victory of Ukrainians Daria Romaniuk and Yeva Serdiuk among the women and the triumph of French Téo Rotar and Arthur Canet on the men’s side were not only historic but also marked the growth of both countries at both the continental and international levels.

In the women’s event, Ukraine confirmed their great moment at the continental level by securing their second European title in two weeks – Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko won gold in the senior edition of the EuroBeachVolley earlier this month.

In Baden, 21-year-olds Romaniuk and Serdiuk were the ones to make history, taking the country to the top of the podium in the U22 European Championship for the first time by taking down defending champions and Czech twins Anna and Katerina Pavelková in two sets (21-16, 21-18) in the gold medal match.

Romaniuk and Serdiuk had finished fourth in the U22 European Championship last season and took silver in the U18 EuroBeachVolley in 2021. In the following season, the Ukrainians won gold at the FIVB U19 World Championship.

Polish Malgorzata Ciezkowska and Urszula Lunio, who took silver last year, made another trip to the podium on Sunday, this time winning bronze after they downed Swiss Muriel Bossart and Leona Kernen in the tie-breaker (21-23, 22-20, 15-13).

Rotar and Canet won their second youth title

The men’s tournament had the two most accomplished teams meeting in the final, and, at the end, the 21-year-old Rotar and the 20-year-old Canet overcame Latvians Kristians Fokerots and Olivers Bulgacs in straight sets (21-14, 21-18) to give France their first title in the age group.

Rotar, who last year helped the country triumph at the CEV Beach Nations Cup, and Canet have a solid background in youth tournaments, having won gold at the U20 European Championship in 2023 and at the FIVB U19 World Championship in 2021. The two competed at the U22 European Championship last year and finished third.

Their victory in the gold medal match prevented Latvian phenom Fokerots from winning continental titles in four different age groups. The 20-year-old blocker triumphed in the U18 European Championship in 2022 and won both the U20 and the senior titles last year.

Bronze in Baden went to Austrians Tim Berger and Timo Hammarberg, who took the host country to the podium in third place thanks to a straight-set (21-18, 21-8) victory over Lithuanians Karolis Palubinskas and Povilas Piesina.

Next week, the U20 European Championship will take place in the Spanish capital Madrid, with matches going on from Thursday to Sunday.