Brazilian beach volleyball great Agatha Bednarczuk Rippel is used to competing under pressure, but her latest challenge comes far from the sand. The world and Olympic medallist was among a group of Olympians who travelled to Lausanne to take part in Beyond the Court, a programme created by the FIVB and the International Centre for Sport Studies (CIES) to help athletes prepare for life after volleyball.
“I’m loving it, I’m learning so much. It’s been five very intense days filled with lessons,” Agatha said. “I’m leaving here with my head full of ideas, really trying to discover a new path. This course opens our minds and gives us tools to understand the corporate world, the world beyond the court.”
The week-long course brought together current and recently retired players for workshops, mentoring and career sessions, including the Athlete365 Career+ CV Workshop. The programme focuses on helping athletes identify the skills they gained through sport and apply them in new areas of work.
“We’re learning to transfer everything from our sporting life, all the experiences and achievements, into our daily lives,” Agatha said. “We’re no longer performing on the court, but now we’ll perform in life.”
During the week, participants also visited the Olympic House, where they took part in the long-standing tradition of signing the Olympic Wall. Agatha joined fellow Olympians Christopher McHugh, Youssef Krou, Yeon Koung Kim, Sanja Malagurski, Christina Bauer, Mamdouh Abdelrehim, Carol Gattaz, Pedro Solberg, Pedro Cunha and Camil Dominguez Martinez in leaving their names alongside champions from around the world.
The experience came at the right time for Agatha. After announcing her retirement following the 2024 season, she has shifted her focus to family life while remaining close to the sport.
“Since I stopped competing, I’ve been dedicating myself to my family, which was my main goal, to be with my daughter and my husband,” she said. “But I haven’t completely left volleyball. I’m involved in my social project, giving talks and clinics, inspiring people with my story. I love doing that.”
She also mentors young players in her home state of Parana and works as a commentator for national and international beach volleyball tournaments.
“I’ve learned so much through sport,” she said. “I knew that when I stopped playing, I’d still feel like an athlete, and that’s exactly how I feel. Everything I learned in volleyball – teamwork, listening, discipline and focus – I’m now applying in my normal life.”
Agatha said Beyond the Court gave her confidence for the next step in her journey. “This course really opens your mind,” she said. “It gives you the content you need to understand this other world and shows that we can keep performing, just in a different arena.”
As Brazil’s one of the most accomplished beach volleyball athletes, the competition may be over, but the performance continues, this time, beyond the court.
