The German beach volleyball duo of Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler secured a silver medal in Paris. The two players from Hamburg faced a clear final defeat, losing 0:2 (10:21, 13:21) against the Swedish team of Ahman and Hellvig on Saturday (10.08.2024).
Winning the silver medal is the duo’s greatest achievement to date. However, they were unable to secure the second gold medal in men’s beach volleyball since Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann triumphed in London in 2012.
The final at the beach arena located at the base of the Eiffel Tower, which had a sold-out crowd of 12,800, quickly turned into a family gathering. Ehlers’ fiancée Lara and Wickler’s girlfriend Franziska were present in Paris, along with the families and friends of the Hamburg pair. They all hoped for a victory against the unique Swedish team, but in the end, their hopes were in vain.
German duo experiences “a rollercoaster of emotions”
After the Swedes secured match point, the German duo sank in disappointment onto the stadium sand. In their Sportschau interview, both expressed their feelings: “It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. On one hand, I’m extremely proud of how we performed throughout the tournament, but the final was certainly our worst match of the entire season,” said Clemens Wickler.
Ehlers remarked that the joy of winning silver might only set in after a few days: “Immediately following the game, we were really down, but overall we played at a high level. We also contributed significantly to beach volleyball in Germany and generated a great deal of excitement.”
Difficult task against the style breakers
Although Ahman and Hellvig did not revolutionize beach volleyball, their unique style has definitely impacted the game. The two Swedish players frequently use just two contacts, often playing the reception directly to the net, allowing the attacker to either aim for a direct point or set up their teammate, all while jumping. This strategy is exceedingly challenging for opponents to defend and is known as the “Swedish Jump Set,” which is distinctive among the world’s elite players.
Problems with reception
David Ahman began the match with a serve, quickly capitalizing on the evident nerves of the German duo, who initially struggled with ball reception. Ahman and Hellvig quickly added two points, extending their lead to 3-0.
However, the Germans had demonstrated their fighting spirit throughout the tournament, winning all six matches leading to the final, and they showcased it right away in the first set by equalizing at 3-3.
Ahman dominates at the beginning
The two young Swedes, both just 22 years old, were engaged in the game from the outset. Ahman particularly excelled in defense with his agility and in clever attacking shots that successfully exposed weaknesses in the German team. This contributed to a 9:5 lead for the Swedish duo, prompting the Germans to call their first timeout.
Wickler displayed some insecurity in the early stages, with his attacking shots frequently failing to breach the Swedish block. It was crucial for him to execute a bold smash down the line to make it 6-10. When the score stood at 8-13 from the German perspective, another technical timeout provided yet another opportunity for discussion. However, given their extensive experience together, such discussions were likely not necessary, as the two duos had faced each other numerous times and frequently practiced together.
Swedish dominance in the first set
The Swedes continued to shine, with Jonatan Hellvig achieving impressive blocks and executing their own attacks flawlessly. The score increased to 17:8, and the set had been long decided. For the Germans, it was merely about building some morale through positive plays for the second set. Ultimately, the two Swedes clinched the first set 21:10.
It was time for Ehlers and Wickler to hit the reset button; however, they struggled to do so effectively. The Swedes quickly regained their lead, going ahead 6-4. The Germans rarely reached the performance level that characterized their tournament journey thus far. With Sweden leading 9-5, the teams switched sides again.
Responses to every German idea
The match continued with little change. The young Swedes seemed to have an answer for every strategy the Germans proposed. At least Ehlers managed to break through a bit more effectively with his attacking shots, keeping the Hamburg team in contention. With the Swedes up 12-9, a technical timeout offered yet another brief pause.
However, this timeout did little to alter the course of the match. The Swedes clearly secured the second set with a score of 21:13, winning the gold medal. The finalists have little time to celebrate due to the demanding international schedule, as the European Championships in the Netherlands are set to begin next Wednesday (August 14, 2024).
Silver for the German beach volleyball duo Nils Ehlers/Clemens Wickler in Paris: The two Hamburg players suffered a clear 0:2 (10:21, 13:21) final defeat against the Swedish duo Ahman/Hellvig on Saturday (10.08.2024).
Winning the silver medal is still the greatest success of the duo’s career. However, they failed to win the second gold medal in the men’s event after Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann in London in 2012.
The final in the beach arena at the foot of the Eiffel Tower – with 12,800 spectators already sold out – quickly became a family affair. Ehlers’ fiancée, Lara, and Wickler’s girlfriend, Franziska, had come to Paris, as had the families and friends of the Hamburg duo. They all kept their fingers crossed against the very special team from Sweden – in the end in vain.
German duo experiences “a rollercoaster of emotions”
After the Swedes converted the match point, the German duo sank disappointedly onto the sand of the stadium – and both were just as disappointed in the Sportschau interview: “It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. On the one hand, I’m extremely proud of our tournament performance, but the final was definitely our worst game of the whole season,” said Clemens Wickler.
Ehlers also said that the joy of winning the silver medal would probably only set in in a few days: “Immediately after the game, we were literally on the ground, but overall we played at a great level. And we also did a lot for beach volleyball in Germany, sparking a lot of euphoria.”
Difficult task against the style breakers
Ahman/Hellvig may not have revolutionized beach volleyball, but they have changed the game with their style. The two blonde Swedes often only use two contacts; they play the reception directly to the net, allowing the player to decide whether to try to score directly or set up the teammate again, often while jumping. This technique, termed the “Swedish Jump Set,” poses significant challenges for their opponents.
Problems with Reception
David Ahman opened the match with his serve and immediately capitalized on the noticeable nervousness of the German duo, who struggled with their initial reception. Ahman/Hellvig quickly established a 3-0 lead.
However, the Germans showcased their fighting spirit throughout the tournament, previously winning all six matches leading up to the final. They managed to equalize at 3:3 early in the first set.
Ahman Dominates at the Start
The young Swedes, both just 22 years old, made their presence felt immediately. Ahman excelled in both defense and clever offensive plays, leading to a 9:5 advantage for Ahman/Hellvig. The Germans called their first time-out.
Wickler displayed some hesitancy early on, with his attack attempts thwarted by the Swedish block. However, he managed a crucial smash along the line to reduce the gap to 6:10. As the score reached 8:13, Germany called a technical timeout.
Swedish Dominance in the First Set
The Swedes were relentless. Jonatan Hellvig executed flawless blocks and attacks, extending their lead to 17:8. The set concluded with a decisive win for Sweden at 21:10.
Pressing the reset button was essential for Ehlers/Wickler, but they faltered again, falling behind 6:4. The Germans struggled to match the high levels they had displayed during the tournament.
Responses to Every German Idea
The game trajectory remained unchanged; the young Swedes seemed to have solutions for every German strategy. Ehlers finally found some rhythm in his attacks, keeping the Hamburg team in contention. But as Sweden led 12:9, another technical timeout was called.
The Swedish players maintained their momentum and clinched the second set with another convincing performance at 21:13, subsequently earning the coveted gold medal. The German finalists, however, had little time to reflect on their achievements, as the European Championships in the Netherlands were scheduled to begin on August 14, 2024.
