Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

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Laboureur and Sude climbed to the top of the world rankings for the first time on their careers

Here we are, beach volleyball fans! This is the last edition of Beach Shorts before the start of the 2018 Swatch Major Gstaad and we can imagine how excited you are with the most picturesque tournament of the season right around the corner. Before you go up to the mountains, it’s time to catch up with the latest news from our beloved sport.

Join us and check what we have for you this week!

The world ranking has a new leader

The World Tour rankings have been updated after the four-star event in Warsaw last weekend and Canadians Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes don’t reign supreme among the women anymore. They have been caught by Germans Julia Sude and Chantal Laboureur, who won silver in Poland, and both teams share the top ranking with 5.040 points now. On the men’s side, Poland’s Bartosz Losiak and Piotr Kantor, who claimed a home gold this past week, remain on top spot with 5.760 points while Dutchmen Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen are second with 4.880.

One for the books: (Shared) WORLDRANKING #1 for the first time ever in our career!! #enjoythemoment #livetimegoals #speechless @comdirect @bundeswehr @kempa_de @loba_on_top @sporthilfe @ultrasun_international @ra_micro @schwabensport @team_germany_volleyball @teamdeutschland @osp_stuttgart @beachmajorseries @fivbbeachvolleyball

524 Likes, 24 Comments - Beachteam Laboureur/Sude (@beachteamlaboureursude) on Instagram: "One for the books: (Shared) WORLDRANKING #1 for the first time ever in our career!! #enjoythemoment..."

World Tour in Europe

Before it heads to Gstaad next week, the World Tour had three tournaments taking place at the same time this weekend, all in Europe. The Portuguese coast of Espinho, known for its deep playing surface and intense winds, hosts a four-start event while Anapa, Russia, and Poreč, Croatia, are the stages for one-star tournaments. Several teams competing in these events will be heading to Gstaad soon, so keep an eye on them!

Federação Portuguesa de Voleibol

Junto ao mar, cheira mesmo a voleibol de praia, nesta tarde de verão em Espinho😊 -- By the sea, smells a lot like beach volleyball, this summer afternoon in Espinho 🏐 #beachworldtour...

Russians dominate U-20 Euro Championships

Teams from Russia were in the spotlights in Anapa as the country collected the gold medals of the women’s and men’s U-20 European Championships. The female tournament was won by 18-year-old Maria Voronina and 16-year-old Mariia Bocharova while Denis Shekunov and Dmitrii Veretiuk prevailed in the male event which another Russian tandem, the one of Pavel Shustrov and Alexey Gusev, claiming bronze.

CEV Beach Volleyball on Twitter

Russian domination in the Finals of #EuroBeachVolleyU20 🤗🤗🤗 The 2018 CEV U20 Beach Volleyball European Championship has come to an end on Sunday with the Russian teams' domination in both Men's and Women's Finals. Read on here >> https://t.co/ewGkIc99jo

Social Media: Jessica Grimson to the World Cup?

English beach volleyball player Jessica Grimson was caught by the soccer feeling as England progresses in the World Cup and she showed she's got the skills! Is there a spot for her in next year’s women’s World Cup, maybe?

Team Palmer/Grimson on Twitter

Before beach volleyball, @VballEngland @TeamEngland @Jess_Grimson was an aspiring footballer with @OfficialBHAFC. Can she still challenge the @lionesses? On the sand, with a volleyball, of course. We'll be roaring with the @England #ThreeLions vs Colombia tonight. #COLENG https://t.co/EH19Jilaks

In case you missed it

Alison set to celebrate ten-year anniversary in Gstaad

Betschart and Hüberli chasing home medal

Alvaro Filho to play with a new partner in the Swiss Alps

No Gstaad this season for Marco Krattiger

See you next week in the Swiss Alps!