The 2013 FIVB Moscow Grand Slam medallists

Moscow, Russia, August 25, 2013 – Latvia’s Janis Smedins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Brazil’s Maria Clara and Carolina Salgado claimed the gold medals at the sixth edition of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Moscow Grand Slam on Sunday.

Brazil won three medals in total in Vodny Stadium as Emanuel Rego and his temporary partner Evandro Goncalves finished second and Ricardo Santos and Alvaro Morais Filho claimed the bronze medal. Emanuel wrote history as the only player to win a medal in Moscow with three different partners.

In the women’s competition Germany’s Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst finished second. Spain’s Liliana Fernandez Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan won the bronze medal.

Smedins and Samoilovs claim second gold with a great show

With their last World Tour medal dating back to June, Janis Smedins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs came back strong with gold at the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam on Sunday. The Latvians defeated Brazil’s Emanuel Rego and Evandro Goncalves 2-0 (21-17 21-16) in a spectacular final.

In a rainy Vodny Park both Latvia and Brazil warmed up the audience with a great show. Evandro and Smedins challenged each other in hitting the hardest attack, while great digs produced great rallies. More

First Grand Slam gold for Maria Clara and Carolina Salgado

Maria Clara and Carolina Salgado claimed their first Grand Slam gold on Sunday at the Vodny Stadium in Moscow. The Brazilian sisters defeated Germany’s Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst 2-0 (21-15 21-18) in the final.

The bronze medal went to Spain’s Liliana Fernandez Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan after a 2-0 (22-20 21-19) win over Italy’s Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth. More

Emanuel in Moscow final for the third year in a row

After winning the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam in 2011 and 2012, Brazil’s Emanuel Rego reached the final in the Russian capital for the third year in a row. But this time not with Alison Cerutti but with young Evandro Goncalves.

The Brazilians play Latvia’s Janis Smedins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs in the Vodny Stadium at 19.30 on Sunday evening. The Latvians prevented an all-Brazilian final by defeating Ricardo Santos and Alvaro Morais Filho 2-0 (21-14 21-19) in the semifinal. More

From country quota to the final in just one year for Walkenhorst

Germany’s Kira Walkenhorst moved up from losing in country quota to the final of the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam in just one year.

Walkenhorst and her new partner since this season, Laura Ludwig, reached the final by defeating Italy’s new team Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth 2-0 (21-16 21-10) on Sunday morning. More

The Moscow Grand Slam was the 8th out of 10 Grand Slams this year. The FIVB World Tour now takes a break until October when the last two Grand Slams of the season are held in Beijing (1-6) and Sao Paolo (8-13).

The FIVB Open calendar features four more events, starting with the double gender Kampala Open in September in Uganda. At the end of October there are two women’s-only events in Xiamen (China) and Phuket (Thailand), followed by the double gender Durban Open (South-Africa) in December.

FIVB Moscow Grand Slam Tournament Page

FIVB Moscow Grand Slam Men’s Main Draw

FIVB Moscow Grand Slam Women’s Main Draw

FIVB Moscow Grand Slam Twitter Account