Latvian Beach Volleyball Legend Tīna Graudiņa’s Double-Threat Power Conquers Adelaide Sand.
-FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
18 November,2025
Latvia’s own Tīna Graudiņa has cemented her legacy as a champion both on the sand and in the classroom, skillfully balancing an elite international beach volleyball career with a rigorous academic journey. The Latvian powerhouse, alongside her partner Anastasija Samoilova, is currently competing at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, where they have successfully navigated the pool play and moved into the crucial knockout stage.
Graudiņa and Samoilova, the European champions, made history as the first Latvian women’s team to qualify for the Olympics and continue to carry the nation’s sporting hopes.
Tina/Anastasija(LAT)vs. Scampoli/Bianchin (ITA) -POOL E #72557315
Elimination Round Commences: Focus on the Fight
Speaking from the Adelaide tournament, Graudiņa confirmed that the team has advanced to the single-elimination phase following the conclusion of pool play.
“If you win the match, you advance forwards and if you lose you’re out of the tournament,” she explained, highlighting the sudden-death nature of the coming rounds.
Tina/Anastasija (LAT) vs.Shiba/Reika(JPN) POOL E. #72389484 Pool Shot
The Latvian pair, seeded 5th for the event, is optimistic but focused on the immediate challenge. “Right now the game tonight we are gonna play against a young Netherlands team Konink/Poiesz,” Graudiņa stated. “On paper, we’re definitely the favourites, but we know that they have nothing to lose and they’ll definitely play the best game of their lives, perhaps. So, we’re ready for a big fight for sure tonight.”
Graudiņa revealed the difficult path ahead to secure a medal, noting that they must win a total of 7 matches to get to the finals, which will be held on Sunday. She named the Americans and the Brazilian teams as the strongest threats in the competition.
Tina/Anastasija(LAT)vs. Scampoli/Bianchin (ITA) -POOL E #72557315
When asked about the secret to her sustained high performance with partner Anastasija, Graudiņa credited their shared values:
“It all lays in each of our individual values and ability to be disciplined and hardworking… we both are on the same page of what we need to put in to be able to get the results.”
Latvian fans getting excited in Adelaide -Tina/Anastasija (LAT) vs.Shiba/Reika(JPN) POOL E. #72389484 Pool Shot
Academic Excellence and Global Perspective
Graudiņa’s path to success is marked by her time as a standout student-athlete at the University of Southern California (USC). She earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science before completing a Master’s degree in Communication Management, which she graduated from in 2022.
Her academic prowess was matched by her athletic performance at USC. Graudiņa was a four-time AVCA First-Team All-American and helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships in 2021 and 2022. She was also the first active collegiate player ever to qualify for the Olympics in her sport.
In a move that highlights her interest in international affairs and her Latvian background, Graudiņa also completed an internship with the Latvian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, an experience she described as “overall a great experience.”
Latvian Pride and Political Voice
Today, November 18th, holds special significance for the athlete: it is the National Day of Latvia.
“We feel like the best thing that we can do for our country today is to have a good game and show good quality of volleyball,” she said.
This sense of national duty is a driving force, especially after serving as the Latvian Olympic Team’s flagbearer.
Graudiņa also spoke passionately about Latvia’s position on the ongoing war in Ukraine. “We are one of the fiercest supporters of Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity,” she affirmed, adding that Latvian support is driven by a deep compassion stemming from their own history of “many invasions and occupations.”
Graudiņa’s journey serves as an inspiration, proving that world-class athletic performance and serious academic pursuit are not mutually exclusive. She continues to elevate Latvian beach volleyball on the international stage while building a strong foundation for her future off the sand.
