Women's Montréal 2005

2005 Informational Kit

Montréal 2005 – After a two-year absence, the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour returns to the French-speaking city for the first of two double gender events on the North American continent (Mexico in October).  Organized by Volleyball Canada, the event will be held at the Uniprix Stadium, a site that has been used a number of times for tennis tournaments and has extensive facilities. The Canadian stop will conflict with the European Beach Volleyball Championships in Moscow. Canada is not new to hosting major international Beach Volleyball events as the country hosted the 1999 PanAmerican Games in Winnipeg along with a series of three SWATCH-FIVB World tour stops in Toronto (1998-2000).  Montréal’s 360 years of history have left an indelible mark on the vibrant character of the city in Quebec province.  It’s been in turn a French settlement, a British stronghold, and today, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city. Over the years, European flair has blended with North American savoir-faire to create the story of Montréal a rich tradition, a mosaic of cultures, and a fierce passion for the future.

Men – Canada returns as a men’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour stop as Montréal hosts an international beach volleyball event for the second-time.  Canadians are hoping to see one of their men’s teams reach a FIVB final in Canada.  Three-time Olympians John Child and Mark Heese earned silver medals at the the 2000 Toronto and 2002 Montréal events.  Sydney Olympians Jody Holden and Conrad Leinemann won the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg.  South Americans won the three Toronto events starting with Martin Conde and Eduardo Martinez’s 1998 crown.  Jose Loiola and Emanuel Rego of Brazil, who placed second to the Argentineans in 1998, captured the 1999 and 2000 Toronto gold medals.

Year – Montréal Gold Medal / Montréal Silver Medal / Montréal Bronze Medal

2002 - Jose Loiola/Ricardo Santos, Brazil / John Child/Mark Heese, Canada / Stein Metzger/Kevin Wong, USA

Women – Little did the 2002 crowd in Montréal know it would produce the same results as the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as the United States, Brazil and Australia competed in the “final four”.  Olympic finalists Misty May/Kerri Walsh of the United States defeated Brazil’s Shelda Bede/Adriana Behar in the Montréal.  The top Canadian finisher in 2002 was a 17th by Gabriele Jobst and Sarah Maxwell.  Canada has also hosted “open” women’s events in Toronto and the 1999 Pan-America Games in Winnipeg where Adriana and Shelda captured the title.  Toronto winners were Sandra Pires/Adriana Samuel of Brazil (1998), Holly McPeak/Nancy Reno of the United States (1999) and Adriana/Shelda (2000).  Kathy Tough and Guylaine were ninth for Canada in the 1998 Toronto event.

Year – Montréal Gold Medal / Montréal Silver Medal / Montréal Bronze Medal

2002 - Misty May/Kerri Walsh, USA / Shelda/Adriana, Brazil / Elaine Youngs/Holly McPeak, USA