Swiss beach volleyball stars Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli have officially launched their 2026 comeback, securing a spot in the round of 16 at the Elite-16 tournament in Saquarema, Brazil.
A Strong Start and a Hard-Fought Lesson
The duo opened their return to the sand with a dominant performance, cruising to a victory over Lithuania’s Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte with a score of 21:12, 21:10. The win marked their first joint competition in nearly two years, signaling a promising restart for the pair.
However, the path to the knockout stage wasn’t without a challenge. In their third match, Brunner and Hüberli suffered their first defeat of the comeback season in a narrow three-set battle against Brazilians Thamela Coradello Galil and Victoria Lopes. The match ended 13:21, 21:15, 19:21, with the Swiss pair narrowly missing out after failing to convert five match points in the deciding set.
Despite the loss, which cost them the top spot in Pool E, the two wins earlier in the tournament were enough to guarantee their advancement to the round of 16.
Road to Recovery and Latest Goals
The separation of the pair followed their bronze medal success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Brunner took a temporary exit from the sport for maternity leave, while Hüberli partnered with Leona Kernen—who, notably, also found success in Saquarema by winning Pool C after defeating the Olympic gold-medal duo of Ana Patricia and Duda.
Hüberli’s own return was further delayed by a persistent foot injury, but the pair is now reunited with a clear vision for the future. According to their official team website, the duo aims to climb back to the top of the world rankings, targeting medals at major events and setting their sights on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
With a history that includes European gold and silver medals and six national titles, Brunner and Hüberli are leveraging their deep trust and experience to regain their elite form on the global stage.
