Gibb became the oldest player to ever win World Tour gold in Chetumal

The Men’s Chetumal podium: Robert Meeuwsen/Alexander Brouwer (NED) Jack Gibb/Taylor Crabb (USA), Trevor Crabb/Tri Bourne (USA) (Photocredit: FIVB)

The final week of play on the 2019 international calendar concluded with the last 4-star tournament of the season, palm trees and summer vibes included.  For the second time this year, the world’s best players competed in Mexico. Under the Caribbean sun on the Yucatan Peninsula, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Chetumal turned out to be a worthy conclusion of 2019 – with a returned to health Australian and a record for America.

The 43-year-old beach veteran Jake Gibb did become the oldest player to top an FIVB World Tour event – for men or women. At 43 years, nine months and 11 days exactly he conquered his second crown in Mexico (surpassing former record holders and compatriots John Hyden, 41, and Kerri Walsh, 40).

At his first gold win in the country, he was 30 years young and partnered with Sean Rosenthal to defeat the legends Rego/Santos from Brazil. This year – and six World Tour wins later – Jake Gibb did it again – with the help of Taylor Crabb, winning against Brouwer/Meeuwsen from the Netherlands (21-16, 16-21, 15-12).  And not only was it a record for the American oldie, but it was also their first medal as team and Taylor Crabb’s first Word Tour gold ever. Enough reason to celebrate a fiesta loca!

The Women’s Chetumal podium: Fan Wang/Xinyi Xia (CHN), Mariafe Artacho/Taliqua Clancy (AUS) Sanne Keizer/Madelein Meppelink (NED) (Photocredit: FIVB)

Also in the women’s competition, there was a reason to celebrate. Mariafe Artacho and Taliqua Clancy topped the podium, defeating the Chinese Fang Wang and Xinyi Xia in three thrilling sets (15-21, 21-14, 15-12).

Mariafe Artacho did win a bronze medal earlier this year at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships presented by comdirect & ALDI Nord in Hamburg but had to pause her play immediately afterwards. Her knee injury forced her to stay out of the game for three months before returning to the World Tour event in China. Together with her partner Taliqua Clancy the Australian could reach a satisfying fourth place. Now, in Chetumal, Mariafe was back in old shape – ending 2019 with gold. Welcome back!