In the spotlight: the secret behind the Vikings’ performance
Feature
“It’s so nice to have a family around!” is what the Norwegian Beach Volleyball star, Anders Mol, said after he and his partner in crime, Christian Sorum delivered a 2-0 win over ROC’s Ilya Leshukov/Konstantin Semenov this past Wednesday. A victory that cleared the way to the semifinals of the Olympics.
Later, on Thursday, Mol and Sorum defeated the Latvian duo Martins Plavins and Edgars Tocs to secure their country’s first ever Olympic medal in the Beach Volleyball. While Sorum was on fire on attack, Mol delivered as many as 10 monster blocks, to impress the fans following the competition from distance as due to the Covid-19 restrictions no audience is allowed on the courts of Shiokaze Park where the Beach Volleyball tournaments are taking place.
The Beachvolley Vikings, as Mol and Sorum are famous among their fans, will play against the reigning world champions of ROC, Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Oleg Stoyanovskiy on August 7 to determine who the new Olympic champions will be. Both sides have met previously as many as six times, so supporters are now looking forward to an outstanding final battle.
Mol and Sorum started the competition, delivering victories (and one loss, from Leshukov/Semenov in the pool stage). However, and as admitted, there was a room for improvement in their game. With the men's tournament unfolding, the Norwegians were able to speed up, unstoppable at the quarterfinals and the semis.
Communication in the team
“It's important to be honest with each other, just so we know how we're feeling out there,” Mol said after the semifinal win over Plavins/Tocs (LAT). "It's nice to just be honest with each other and look into each other's eyes and say, 'I'm tired, I need help'. That's really important for our collaboration or teamwork.”
Anders Mol (NOR)“I can’t always promise to block all the balls, but I try to step it up and be even more positive with my partner when he is also delivering such a good job. Our kind of our communication is really key to our success, and it's really, really important.”
Family around
There is another special factor that helps a lot to team Mol/Sorum.
“It’s kind of a family business we are running,” Kaare Mol, Anders' father, said after his son and Christian Sorum beat Leshukov and Semenov (ROC) in the quarters.
Kaare is also the head coach of the team. Anders' uncle is also at the Olympics as the team’s assistant coach. Mol’s brother and cousin are there as training partners. And even they are not Christian’s relatives by blood, the atmosphere among all the staff and the players is as if in a real family.
Anders Mol (NOR)“We are part of a big volleyball family here. We're so proud, and we have so many people working hard for this. We receive so much support! We're just at the beginning! There will be many more Mols in the future, my siblings are training hard, they are pretty good, too.”
Communication and people you trust
If this is the formula to the ultimate success?
The answer will be delivered after the final referee whistle of Tokyo 2020 Final at the Men’s Beach Volleyball tournament.