This fall, several Swiss women’s beach volleyball duos separated. New pairings were formed. Many fans wondered who Joana Mäder, who previously worked with Anouk Vergé-Dépré, would play with.
Now it’s clear: not for the time being. Because Mäder is pregnant. The Zurich woman wrote on Instagram: “We are pregnant!” She adds: “It’s crazy. Our dream of having a little family is coming true and we couldn’t be happier.”
Her goal is to one day make her comeback in the sand. “I want to return to the court as a mom. But the most important thing for me is to first enjoy the pregnancy and family time without pressure – and then move on step by step,” she is quoted as saying in a statement by Swiss Volley.
In 2020, Vergé-Dépré and Mäder (then still under the single name Heidrich) celebrated the European Championship title, and in 2021 the two made history in Tokyo: They became the first female Swiss beach volleyball duo – and only the second European one – to win an Olympic medal with bronze. “An incredible moment that I look back on with pride and joy,” says Vergé-Dépré. “This experience was very emotional, will always connect us and will remain unforgettable,” says Mäder.
Vergé-Dépré and Mäder continued to write their success story in the following season. In June 2022, they were on the verge of winning a medal at the World Cup – something no female Swiss beach duo has ever achieved. However, in the game for bronze and in the lead, Mäder injured his shoulder so seriously that an operation and a month-long break were necessary.
In the following two years, Vergé-Dépré and Mäder did everything they could to be at the top of the world again and to be able to defend their medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. However, they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics due to the country quota.
“We experienced a lot together, celebrated many successes, but also went through difficult times. Overall, we have the feeling that we gave everything for this partnership and got the most out of it,” says Vergé-Dépré, explaining the reasons for the sporting separation.
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