Swiss Duo Brunner and Hüberli Secure Podium Finish in Stunning Saquarema Comeback

In the world of elite sports, the road back from a hiatus is rarely a straight line. For Nina Brunner, that road led from the quiet joys of latest motherhood back to the grueling sands of Brazil. At the recent Elite-16 event in Saquarema, Brunner and her longtime partner Tanja Hüberli didn’t just return to the Beach Pro Tour; they reminded the volleyball world exactly why they are among the most formidable pairings in the game.

The Swiss duo walked away from the tournament with a third-place finish, a result that feels like a victory given the circumstances. For Brunner, this was more than just a return to competition—it was the first time she had stepped onto the sand since August 2024. The gap in her professional career was a deliberate choice, made to start a family with former ice hockey player Damien Brunner.

The Journey Back to the Sand

Brunner’s absence followed a whirlwind of success, including a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and a victory at the Beach Pro Tour Hamburg Elite. After giving birth to her daughter, Mila, in June 2025, the 30-year-old Olympic medalist wasn’t initially certain she would return to the professional circuit. In an interview with Swiss site Blue Win, Brunner admitted that during her pregnancy and Mila’s earliest months, the drive to play wasn’t immediate.

However, the competitive itch returned after about two and a half months. That realization sparked a reunion with Tanja Hüberli, 33, setting the stage for a comeback that many analysts wondered would be a slow burn. Instead, the pair arrived in Saquarema hitting their stride almost immediately.

This tournament marked the 85th international event of Brunner’s 14-year professional career, but the context had shifted. She returned as a two-time European champion and a mother, bringing a different perspective to the court that seemed to fuel her resilience throughout the week.

A Grueling Path to the Podium

The Elite-16 event in Brazil proved that the Swiss duo had lost little of their tactical edge. Their path to the podium was defined by a series of hard-fought battles, particularly against American opposition. Brunner and Hüberli navigated the round of 16 and the quarterfinals by defeating two separate US tandems, signaling that their chemistry remained intact despite the long break.

The semi-finals, however, provided a stark reminder of the margins in elite beach volleyball. Facing the American duo of Kristen Cruz and Taryn Brasher, the Swiss pair struggled early. They were overwhelmed in the first set, dropping it 11-21.

What followed was a display of the grit that defined their Olympic run. Brunner and Hüberli adjusted their defensive positioning and timing, clawing back to take the second set 21-14. The match pushed into a tiebreak, where the momentum swung violently. A three-point run by the Americans pushed Cruz and Brasher to a 14-11 lead, ultimately ending the Swiss dream of a final appearance.

Closing Strong: The Battle for Third

While the semi-final loss was a blow, the Swiss pair refused to let their comeback tournament end on a sour note. In the bronze medal match, they faced the home-crowd favorites, the Brazilian duo of Carol and Rebecca.

Playing against local talent in Brazil is often a psychological battle as much as a physical one. The first set was a nail-biter, with Brunner and Hüberli edging out the Brazilians 22-20. Once they secured that first set, the momentum shifted entirely. The Swiss duo dominated the second set 21-11, securing third place and capping off a “dream comeback” that exceeded most expectations.

What This Means for the Swiss Pair

For the broader beach volleyball community, the success of Brunner and Hüberli serves as a significant data point regarding athletes returning to elite competition after childbirth. The transition from the demands of motherhood back to the explosive requirements of the Beach Pro Tour is immense, yet Brunner’s ability to compete at the semi-final level in her first event suggests a high level of physical and mental preparation.

Tactically, the duo showed they can still compete with the world’s best, though the first-set collapse in the semi-finals suggests there is still some “match toughness” to regain. Their ability to rebound from an 11-21 deficit to force a tiebreak shows that their communication and emotional stability as a team remain their greatest assets.

As they move forward, the focus will likely shift toward consistency and ranking recovery. Having missed nearly a year and a half of competition, the pair will need to string together several strong performances to climb back to the seeding levels they enjoyed leading up to the Paris Games.

The return of an Olympic medalist to the sand is always a story, but doing so with a podium finish in one of the most competitive environments in the sport is a statement. Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli didn’t just return to the game; they reminded the tour that they are still highly much in the hunt.

The beach volleyball circuit now looks toward the next set of Elite-16 events, where Brunner and Hüberli will appear to build on this momentum and potentially challenge for a title.

Do you think more elite athletes will follow Brunner’s lead in balancing motherhood with a return to professional sports? Let us know in the comments below.