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BELLO BROTHERS PARTNERSHIP

Kukri Sports has announced a deal with Birmingham 2022 bronze medallists Javier and Joaquin Bello this week, providing them kit ahead of their key competitions this year. As part of the announcement, we sat down with the pair to find out a bit more about who they are, their background and their hunger for more success.

Three months on from their epic performance in the Commonwealth Games that earned them an illustrious bronze medal, Javier and Joaquin Bello are stood in more humbling territory, their local training centre. “We are so proud, but this is just the beginning. We have bigger aspirations,” says Javi with a smile, when asked about the pair’s past achievements. Despite their previous accolades, the brothers are setting their sights on the future, growing the sport of beach volleyball, and building their own legacy.   

The Bello’s guaranteed themselves a shot at a medal after impressively defeating Tuvalu, Cyprus, and Team Gambia in the competition. However, in the biggest match of their careers, in front of a 4,000 crowd, the mammoth task of the more experienced Team Canada was a stride too far for the Madrid-born siblings. They bowed out in the semi-final, before eventually edging Rwanda to secure their bronze. The talent, dynamism, and passion they radiated during the tournament won the hearts of the spectators.  

Despite tight funding, the twins exceeded all expectations of England’s place in the beach volleyball world order and became trailblazers for the sport in Britain. “Part of our identity is knowing we don’t have the perfect conditions to be a professional team, but doing the best with what we’ve got,” admitted Javi. “There are now more people playing and it will benefit the sport in the long run, it might not be us benefitting, but definitely the next generations of players.” A wisdom way above his years, the 22-year-old is clearly delighted to have had an impact on the long-term success of his favourite sport.   

The conversation turns to his brother, Joaquín, who is asked if the siblings had planned to engross the public this much. “They liked our passion,” he responded jovially. “We focused almost exclusively on the Commonwealth Games this year as it was the biggest event in a generation that we were going to host in the UK. It was our once in a lifetime opportunity to broadcast this sport to the world.” Perhaps reflecting the modern world in sport, the brothers identify social media as the catalyst that propels them and their brand. They “love to tell stories and show off the sport” to their followers and confess the engagement they receive on their content has a positive impact on their lives.  

When the topic of Kukri Sports is brought up, both Bello brothers light-up. The brand partnered with the players and supplied them with their kits for the Commonwealth Games, something that the young sportsmen are incredibly thankful for and state that played a colossal role in their great form. “You want clothes that are comfortable and you can move in. We felt loose and good on the court and that was all down to Kukri, that’s why we reached out to them. It’s another little performance gain we had thanks to them,” says Joaquin, who feels supported by the brand, as the brothers aspire to make a serious push for the next Olympic Games.   

Whilst they dream of having professional careers in the sport, they are both still in education, but it is not difficult to see that they are gifted individuals with masses of charisma – Javier recently graduated in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Royal Holloway University, while Joaquin is in his fifth year studying medicine at Imperial College. The twins, who emigrated with their beach volleyball-obsessed family to the UK aged 10, are in perfect hands for success. Their mother Barbara is their team manager, with younger brother Enrique acting as a training partner. Most incredibly of all, their father Luis, described as “one of the best coaches in the world” by Javi, coaches them. An exemplary set-up for a meteoric rise. Javier and Joaquin Bello – remember the names.