Olympia-Qualifikation Beachvolleyball: Familienduell Vergé-Dépré

The Vergé-Dépré household’s favourite sport is carambole, a type of finger billiards. You must sink the sport items into the holes on the wood board and you may as well flip different particular person’s items alongside the way in which. The present state of affairs of Anouk, 32, and Zoé Vergé-Dépré, 26, is similar to that on the sport board.

Both sisters and their seashore volleyball companions have an opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games. However, solely one of many two will go to Paris. It’s like a sport board in carom: If one participant wins factors in a match, it hurts the opposite. Are you content when your sister performs badly? “It’s an disagreeable feeling,” stated Anouk.

Switzerland’s high three are going through an “disagreeable” state of affairs. Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli have been taking part in so properly since final summer season that they nearly acquired one of many two locations in Switzerland. But it was unattainable to foretell how tough the battle for the second Olympic ticket could be.

For a very long time, the stability of energy within the Vergé-Dépré household was clearly distributed. Anouk, six years older than her, confirmed the way in which to success and reached the spherical of 16 of the Olympic Games in Rio on the age of 24. Zoé had simply switched from indoor sports activities to seashore volleyball on the time.

A couple of months in the past, a younger girl and her companion Esmée Böbner made their success on high of the world. On the opposite hand, her older sister and her companion Joana Mäder, try for constant excessive efficiency after Mäder’s severe damage. Perhaps the as soon as profitable duo Anouk Vergé-Dépré / Mäder is not going to take part within the Olympic Games once more.

Until now, the sisters had by no means had a way of competitors

There are three tournaments left to play, the deadline is June 9. Zoé Vergé-Dépré and Böbner are 460 factors forward of Anouk and Mäder within the standings after ending third within the final match, successful 1000 factors.

The indisputable fact that sisters is usually a little completely satisfied about one another’s success is new to them. “We haven’t got a great historical past of competitors,” stated Anouk. Due to the age distinction, they spend a very long time coping with varied issues of their lives. She was the ‘older sister’ and took care of the youthful one. Today, Bernese girls are their closest contacts.

They share their pursuits, spend numerous time collectively, and most of all, they have a good time every part associated to Caribbean tradition, from cooking to dancing. They additionally go on trip collectively. My father grew up principally in France, however he’s initially from Guadeloupe and got here to Switzerland due to volleyball. Today he works as a coach and sports activities instructor. The daughters had been there from a younger age within the gymnasiums and seashore volleyball courts.

The duel can also be in Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré with out competitions. Three of the strongest Swiss seashore volleyball groups type a coaching group in Bern. Trade can also be near work. During promotion, younger individuals profit from the expertise of older individuals, for instance in sponsorship, administration or communication points.

They often cheer for one another, watch their video games, and discuss issues that inspire them in sports activities and life. “What we lack proper now could be that we will not do it with the identical depth,” says Anouk, however that is unattainable in some other manner within the present aggressive setting. Zoé says: “We’re so far-off in the course of the tournaments, it is like Anouk was a participant like some other on the tour. But good or dangerous outcomes begin one thing for another person.”

They nonetheless meet for dinner, however the matter of sports activities is off limits

They did not discuss easy methods to take care of the primary state of affairs. They each do that mechanically in the identical manner. They nonetheless see one another in secret; they went out to eat collectively on the final match in Brazil. Sports aren’t allowed in discussions.

While Anouk is an lively and emotional one that begins and implements many initiatives shortly, Zoé is the extra relaxed one. And often the massive sister’s place of peace. “It’s vital that we do not have that in our skilled lives proper now and that is what stands between us,” each stated.

But they’re assured that they’ve such a great basis that after this summer season they’ll discover their manner again to their outdated relationships in all points of life.

As the sisters work in direction of the identical purpose, the beginnings of the 2 teams are utterly totally different. Zoé and her companion Böbner have been a duo for seven years, nearly since Zoé switched from indoor to seashore volleyball. But they have not had a severe competitors from the highest groups for a very long time. “Last 12 months I felt that she had taken a psychological step and that the group had the sensation of a killer,” stated Anouk about her sister. A tough season for the return of the skilled crew Vergé-Dépré / Mäder additionally gave the children a spot for promotion.

Victory on the Challenge match in Mexico and third place on the high degree (Elite 16) in Brazil had been Zoé Vergé-Dépré’s final achievements. However, participation in Paris would have been successful.

Just being there’s not an choice for Mäder / Vergé-Dépré

The state of affairs is totally different for Anouk and Mäder, who’ve performed on the high of the world for a few years, are European champions and received bronze within the final video games. Mäder, who was nonetheless going by her maiden title Heidrich on the time, suffered a severe shoulder damage in June 2022. In 2023 the crew returned, blended to this point. Sometimes they win tournaments, generally they fail within the playoffs.

Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Mäder each participated within the Olympics twice. That adjustments the start line. “When we go to the Olympic Games, we would like to have the ability to do one thing,” stated Anouk Vergé-Dépré. If he and his companion Mäder had been in a position to qualify, it might give them confidence.

The sibling state of affairs is probably the most talked about situation on the seashore volleyball tour as a result of it has by no means been there earlier than. For a very long time, Zoé Vergé-Dépré was thought-about Anouk’s youthful sister. But that did not trouble him. He says: “I did not discover it restrictive. “My sister’s success confirmed me what was attainable, pushed me and impressed me. Jealousy didn’t come up.”

It shouldn’t be but clear which of the highest six Swiss gamers will proceed in Paris. There might be new constellations on the subsequent Olympics till Los Angeles in 2028, even when the present three groups have received for a few years. Maybe two sisters? Without realizing how properly they’ll end this season, it’s too early to begin interested by issues, stated Anouk Vergé-Dépré: “But it’s an choice like all of the others.”