14/11/2024

Kukri Sports is thrilled to celebrate its Beach Volleyball ambassadors, Javier & Joaquin Bello on winning the Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Elite 16 in Rio de Janeiro.

The brothers have made history as the first British pair to claim a BPT title at professional level, marking a monumental milestone for UK Beach Volleyball on the global stage.

In a pulsating final on 10 November, the Bellos defeated Argentina’s Tomas and Nicolas Capograsso to lift the trophy and secure their place among the world’s top 16 for the first time.

Reflecting on their unprecedented victory, Javier and Joaquin shared the pride they felt in reaching an unforgettable milestone.

“It’s really amazing – it’s something we have been working towards for years. It feels like we are on top of the world!

“At the same time, we know there’s still a long way to go, and we’re excited to keep building on this momentum and reach even higher goals”, they said.

The semi-final proved to be a deciding moment in the tournament, where the duo beat Olympic bronze medallists Anders Mol and Christian Sørum to book their place in the final.

“They are one of the best volleyball teams in history. We had managed to push them to three sets in the previous tournament, so we thought it was possible, but we had to play a really solid game.

“We were able to find a couple of crucial points when we needed to and stuck together in the tough moments, which we took into the final,” the brothers reflected.

The Bellos’ journey to this victory has been marked by hard work, dedication and perseverance. Their near-miss in qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games fuelled their motivation to keep pushing forward.

“At the beginning of the year, we played a few Elite 16 tournaments as we were super close to qualifying for the Olympics, and we needed just one single run like this to make it to Paris.

“Although it was quite unfortunate that we didn’t manage to do it, it kept us motivated and working hard in our day-to-day, which made the difference in Rio.”

This historic achievement sets a new benchmark for British beach volleyball -one the Bellos hope will inspire the sport’s future in the UK. “The growth of beach volleyball in the UK in the last few years is remarkable.

“We hope we can keep inspiring the younger generation, showing just how amazing this sport is and what is possible if you work hard for your dreams.”

Looking forward, the Bellos are already eyeing further milestones. “As our favourite Kobe Bryant quote says, ‘job’s not finished’.

“We have a long road ahead to keep improving and hopefully winning more. We want to be the best team in the world and continue living our dream of playing in the biggest and best tournaments.

Kukri Sports is incredibly proud to support the Bellos, who wear a bespoke range designed to help them perform their best in training and intense competitions around the world.

“We really have the best kit, and it is exactly what we need to perform at our best. It makes us extremely proud every day stepping out onto the court, and we’re really grateful for having Kukri in our corner.”

With this monumental win behind them, the Bello Brothers are ready to tackle new heights in beach volleyball and continue to raise the bar for British athletes worldwide – with Kukri fuelling their journey to greatness.