There is no stopping Anders Mol and Christian Sørum in their quest for global beach volleyball domination as the Norwegians won their seventh gold medal of yet another sensational season and their second A1 Major Vienna presented by Swatch title.
Last season’s champions and world number ones maintained their irresistible form on the Danube Island by taking a third successive gold medal on the FIVB World Tour, following their victories at the Swatch Major Gstaad and the Tokyo four-star event.
The Vikings, who won bronze at the World Championships last month, gave experienced Brazilians Álvaro Filho and reigning Olympic champion Alison Cerutti no chance in the final, winning 21-11, 21-17 in front of a packed Red Bull Beach Arena.
Victory for Mol, 22, and 23-year-old Sørum also made it 20 successive wins in a row on the World Tour for the Scandinavians who now head to Moscow to defend the European title they won 12 months ago.
“It’s incredible, we’re running out of words to describe how we feel but it’s another gold at a tournament that we love,” said blocker Anders. “To win here once was a dream but to win it back-to-back is just insane.”
Christian, who was saving everything in defense, added: “It’s been a long, hard season and we are playing some of the best teams in the world and it just feels incredible to keep winning and maintaining our high levels. We love Vienna, the atmosphere and the fans is just amazing, so do win again caps a brilliant few weeks for us.”
Despite the loss, silver medalists Alison and Álvaro were happy to have left the Danube Island with something to show for their efforts – their fourth medal of their partnership.
“They’ve been the best team in the world for the last year and it’s important for us to play them,” Alison said. “The last time I had played them was one year ago and it’s impressive how much better they’ve got.
“They’re young, but very calm and they know when to change their strategy, which is not usual for players of their age. I feel liked we didn’t play as well as we could in the final, but it’s a big opportunity for us to learn and improve.”
The bronze medal went the way of Polish pair Grzegorz Fijalek and Michal Bryl who needed three sets to stave off the threat of legendary American pair Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena, winning 21-17, 17-21, 15-11.
It’s continental and national tours next for the beach elite, whose next World Tour assignment comes in the shape of the four-star event in Moscow in two week’s time.
The Majors Series will return in 2020, but until then, remember, goosebumps don’t lie.
