David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig Awarded 2025 Bragdguldet Amid Ceremony Mishap

David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig were honored with the prestigious 2025 Bragdguldet award in recognition of their world championship victory in beach volleyball in Adelaide, Australia. This prestigious accolade marks the 100th anniversary of the Bragdguldet, which saw tough competition from notable athletes such as Daniel Ståhl, defending his discus world title, and Andreas Almgren, who earned a historic bronze in the 10,000 meters and set a European record in the 5,000 meters. The jury, led by Svenska Dagbladet's Anders Lindblad, lauded Åhman and Hellvig for their "groundbreaking brilliance" and described their win as a "dream final."

Despite the excitement, the award ceremony was overshadowed by an embarrassing mistake where Hellvig's name was mistakenly replaced with that of golf player Maja Stark's location. Lindblad acknowledged the error, attributing it to the duo's relatively lower public profile compared to other athletes. Hellvig took the mix-up in stride, joking that a double-check would have prevented the blunder.

While the award celebrated a remarkable athletic feat, some commentators questioned the appropriateness of the honor, suggesting it may dilute the meaning of "bragd," a term traditionally reserved for more unexpected sports achievements. One author pointed out that Åhman and Hellvig entered the World Championship as reigning Olympic champions and highly ranked contenders, implying their victory, though impressive, was not a surprising underdog story.

The selection process was notably rigorous, described as one of the most challenging in recent years with jurors engaging in lengthy debates to compare performances across sports. Åhman, who was still in Australia during the announcement, expressed surprise and joy, while Hellvig highlighted the growing visibility of beach volleyball in Sweden. The duo has yet to decide how to celebrate their milestone achievement.