Tokyo Olympics: Aussie beach volleyballers put Games rivals on notice with huge win in Mexico

Australian Olympians Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar are hitting form at just the right time, less than 80 days out from the Tokyo Games.

IT was a clarion call of Olympic proportions.

Australia’s beach volleyball pairing of Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar put their rivals on notice this morning by winning gold at the third and final FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 4-star event at the Cancun Hub in Mexico.

With just over 80 days to go until the Olympics, Clancy and del Solar could become the first pairing since Nat Cook and Kerri Pottharst in 2000 to win Olympic gold for Australia in beach volleyball.

Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar. Picture: John Gass

The bronze medallists of the 2019 World Championship, the Australians defeated Brazilians Agatha Bednarczuk and Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa 19-21, 22-20, 16-14.

“It always comes down to our side of the net and our good teamwork,” Clancy said.

“We did a great job in coming back, taking a moment and just committing to our game. I’m so proud of Mariafe for the great fight she put up with me at the end.”

It was the perfect end to the three tournament competition for the Australians, after finishing fifth and ninth in the opening two tournaments.

Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar win FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in Mexico, May 3, 2021. Source: FIVB

“We love you, Mexico!,” Artacho Del Solar celebrated.

“We’ll have great memories of these events. We came here with a goal and even though it didn’t go our way in the first two events, we kept strong, stayed focused and here we are. I’m so happy.”