Have you ever watched two athletes on a beach court battling it out under the sun, the sand flying, and thought: What’s going on with the French women’s team Honestly, until recently I hadn’t paid much attention to the France women’s national beach volleyball team. But their story is starting to get interesting and if you’re curious about how they got here (and where they might be going), you’re in for a treat.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how French women’s beach volleyball has developed, what’s working, what still needs work, and why it matters. I’ll also share practical insights if you’re following the sport or thinking about getting into beach volleyball yourself. This article will be updated regularly with new insights.
1. Where France Started & What’s Changed
The background
Beach volleyball as a sport in France: not born yesterday, but it’s been growing. The rules of the game itself two players per side, sand court, outdoor conditions make it a different beast from indoor volleyball.
For the French women’s beach volleyball scene, a few key moments:
- The French federation hooked into the global development programmes (namely from the FIVB) with the aim of raising the level.
- As hosts for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France was motivated to raise its game not just for a one-off but longer term.
What’s new
Here are some of the recent developments:
- France qualified not just one but two women’s pairs for the 2024 Olympics (one as host nation, another via ranking).
- The women’s duo of Lezana Placette & Alexia Richard beat a top German pair Laura Ludwig & Louisa Lippmann) straight sets at the Paris Olympics.
- There is a structured domestic circuit: for example, the French national beach volleyball tour the France Beach Volley Series”) has women’s events and is gaining traction.
2. Who Are the Key Players
Here are three duos worth knowing:
| Duo | Info | Why they matter |
| Lézana Placette & Alexia Richard | Both relatively young. They got a major win in Paris 2024 vs Germany. | They represent the “now” of French women’s beach volleyball. |
| Aline Chamereau & Clémence Vieira | Chamereau (born 1996) + Vieira (born 2000) have been competing and making progress. | This duo shows the pipeline of talent. |
| Other emerging pairs on the domestic circuit | E.g., the domestic tour winners like Saofe Duval & Marilu Pally. | Good to know because depth matters. |
3. What’s Working for France
- Coaching & structure: The French federation brought in specialist coaches and got funding via the FIVB’s Empowerment programme. That improves training, tactics and long-term vision.
- Hosting advantage: As the host of the Paris Olympics, there was extra motivation, home crowd support and exposure.
- Competitive domestic tour: Having a strong domestic circuit gives female athletes more match practice and visibility.
- Breakthrough results: Beating strong teams, qualifying multiple pairs, and achieving higher world-ranking positions show things are moving.
4. What Still Needs Improvement
Honestly, there are still gaps. Here are some of them:
- Consistent podium finishes: France women’s beach volleyball hasn’t yet been a regular medal contender at the highest level (World Championships / Olympics).
- Depth of field: While the top 1-2 pairs are improving, the next tier needs to strengthen to sustain long-term success.
- Beach vs indoor crossover: Some players have indoor volleyball backgrounds, and adapting fully to beach’s unique conditions is not trivial.
- Visibility & support for women’s side: Like many sports, women’s beach volleyball may still lack the same level of sponsorship, media attention or grassroots investment as some other sports.
- Adapting to elite tactics: The very top teams increasingly rely on highly refined strategy, physical conditioning, specialized skills (serve-receive, float serve, block coverage) French pairs are getting better but still chasing the absolute top.
5. Why It Matters – For Fans & Athletes
If you’re a fan of beach volleyball, here’s why you should keep an eye on the French women’s scene:
- It’s a growth story: Watching a country ramp up from solid contender to potential medalist is exciting.
- Tournament atmosphere: With the Paris Olympics spotlight, more visibility and better matches.
- If you’re an aspiring athlete in France (or elsewhere) you can learn from their path: structured training, couples working together, domestic tournaments feeding into international events.
6. Practical Tips If You’re Following / Playing Beach Volleyball
- Watch the right matches: Focus on matches of the French women’s pairs vs top-ranking teams. You’ll see where they excel and where they struggle (for example, serve-receive, side-out transitions).
- Pay attention to domestic events: The France Beach Volley Series is worth checking; local tournaments reveal future talent.
- Learn key beach volleyball skills:
- Serve types and combos (float serve, jump serve)
- Reading opponent’s blockers & defenders
- Movement on sand (less stable than indoor)
- Communication between the duo (there are just two players!)
- Serve types and combos (float serve, jump serve)
- Follow developments in funding/structure: Since resources matter, seeing how the French federation supports women’s pairs could hint at future results.
- For players: Get match experience: If you’re in France and play beach volleyball, aim to enter the domestic tour events. Even recreational play in sand helps build the feel.
7. Quick Comparison: France vs Top Nations
| Feature | France Women | Top-tier Nations (e.g., Brazil, USA) |
| Funding & coaching | Improving, recently boosted | Long-established, large budgets |
| Domestic depth | Growing but fewer high-level pairs | Many elite pairs and deep bench |
| International podiums | Occasional wins, still chasing consistency | Regular medalists at WCh/Olympics |
| Age/experience of top pairs | Some young/less experienced combos | Many veteran combos with years of synergy |
| Play-style / tactics | Improving adaptability | Highly refined, individually and as teams |
8. FAQs
Q: Has a French women’s beach volleyball pair won an Olympic medal
A: Not yet for the women’s side (as of 2024). They’ve made progress, but are still chasing that major podium finish.
Q: Who are the top French women’s beach volleyball players
A: For now some of the top names include Lezana Placette & Alexia Richard, and Aline Chamereau & Clémence Vieira. There are others in the domestic circuit too.
Q: How did France qualify two women’s pairs for Paris 2024
A: One pair qualified as the host nation’s automatic spot; another qualified through world ranking/qualification.
Q: Are there grassroots beach volleyball options for women in France
A: Yes — there’s the national domestic tour and clubs in various arrondissements (in Paris) and other regions. For example, public-info pages mention beach volleyball clubs in Paris for ages 3-77.
Q: What should the French women’s pairs focus on to get to the next level
A: Building consistent performance under pressure, improving physical/sand-specific movement, depth of talent, and more frequent international results will help.
Conclusion
In my experience following beach volleyball, the French women’s side is at an interesting turning point. They’re no longer just hopefuls, they’re showing real signs of breaking through. But there’s still work to do.
If you’re a fan: keep an eye on the upcoming seasons, national tour events and how the French duos perform internationally.
If you play: consider what these French teams are doing structured training, getting match experience, developing partnerships and apply those lessons to your own game.