Åhman, 23, and Hellvig, 24, won Olympic gold in Paris last year and followed it up with another gold in the World Championships the other week, despite the preparations being disrupted by a knee injury to Åhman.
In the final, the Swedish competitors faced young World Cup debutants Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson, who completed a successful blue-yellow championship.
In tough competition, Åhman and Hellvig are awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal by the jury, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
It feels absolutely fantastic, we really didn't expect this. We are incredibly happy, says David Åhman in an interview in connection with the announcement of this year's award winners.
“Unexpected but fun”
Hellvig:
Absolutely fantastic. Unexpected but fun! It was a really good final. Absolutely incredible with two teams from Sweden. It couldn't have been better than that.
2025 has been a strong Swedish sports year. The women's ski team – which won six of six World Cup gold medals – was mentioned in the preliminary discussions for the Bragdguldet. So were Daniel Ståhl, who secured a World Cup gold medal in the discus in the final throw, and Maja Stark, who won the US Open golf major.
Instead, beach volleyball is being honored for the first time.
It means a lot. It really shows that we have made a breakthrough with the Swedish people and now beach volleyball is a sport that people actually watch. It's great fun, says Jonatan Hellvig when he is interviewed with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
“Super surprised”
Coach and volleyball profile Anders Kristiansson stood by and also tried to take in that the 2025 Bragdguldet goes to David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig.
I'm also super surprised. I don't know if we've won over the Swedish people, but I hope so. But at least we've won over the jury, and I never thought that would happen, says Kristiansson.
Facts: Åhman and Hellvig
TT
David Ohman
Born: December 20, 2001 in Umeå.
Length: 191 cm.
Lives: Stockholm.
Jonathan Hellvig
Born: October 5, 2001 on Lidingö.
Length: 193 cm.
Lives: Stockholm.
The duo's main achievements: Olympic gold in 2024 and World Championship gold in 2025. Receives the Medal of Merit in 2025.
2025 – David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig, beach volleyball.
2024 – Armand Duplantis, athletics
2023 – Daniel Ståhl, athletics
2022 – Nils van der Poel, skating
2021 – Swedish national show jumping team, equestrian (Malin Baryard Johnsson, Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson)
2020 – Armand Duplantis, athletics
2019 – Tove Alexandersson, orienteering
2018 – Hanna Öberg, biathlon
2017 – Sarah Sjöström, swimming
2016 – Henrik Stenson, golf
Footnote: An athlete can receive the Gold Medal of Merit a maximum of two times during their career.
