Téo Rotar has lived all his life around volleyball and it’s no surprise that he is emerging as the biggest French prospect in beach volleyball. Both his parents were professional volleyball players; his father Teodor-Dumitru Rotar featured for French A league club Martigues and the Romanian national team while his mother played in the French second division in Nancy. His elder sister Amélie, a 189cm opposite, is an established French international and is attached to Göztepe SK in the Türkiye topflight league.
It was inevitable that young Rotar would follow the same path but chose the sand version of the game at the tender age of 14. Last year, Téo Rotar and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat made history at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Adelaide, Australia where they claimed bronze, winning France’s first-ever medal in the tournament since the inaugural edition in 1997. It was the second time Rotar was climbing to a World Championship podium after winning the Under-19 World title alongside Arthur Canet in 2021 in Phuket, Thailand.
“I think I took time to realize what we did. A lot of people sent me messages to congratulate us. I knew that it was something historical because it’s the first medal in a World Championship for France but when you focus for 10 days, fully involved mentally and physically in the tournament, you need time to take a step back. It’s when I remembered that the previous bronze medalists in Tlaxcala were Bryl/Losiak then I was like: ‘Okay, we did something huge’,” said Rotar, who also won the 2025 U22 European Championship title with Canet.
Téo Rotar of France stands in disbelief after winning their bronze medal match at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Adelaide, Australia
At 21, Rotar was only making his debut at the 2025 World Championships while his partner Gauthier-Rat, 29, was on his third appearance. The World Championship podium appearance crowned what had been a solid first season for the team formed after the Olympic Games Paris 2024. In 2025, they won medals at both the Alanya (silver) and the Xiamen (bronze) Beach Pro Tour Challenge events and traveled to Adelaide after getting three-straight top-10 finishes in Elite tournaments. At the World Championship, Rotar and Gauthier-Rat made it to the podium with a campaign of seven wins and only one loss, to silver medalists Jacob Hölting Nilsson & Elmer Andersson in the semifinals.
“Many changes happened in my life towards the end of 2024; new training location (now I’m in Toulouse in the National Center with all the French teams), new partner Arnaud Gautier-Rat (who brings a lot of experience) and new staff (new coach, physical trainer, mental coach and physio). All those changes pushed me to evolve and learn new ways of working. I think it’s one of the main success factors of the 2025 season,” Rotar told FIVB.com.
“I felt a lot of pride realising that we were among the best teams in the world, it’s a great achievement. I now understand the path it takes to get there and I know that the hardest part will be reproducing this kind of performance over the long term,” emphasized Rotar.
To become the best, you have to beat the best teams in the world, something that Rotar learnt the hard way in Adelaide. He singled out the Round of 32 clash against Argentina’s Juan Bautista Amieva Tarditti & Maciel Bueno Torres and the Round of 16 triumph over Qatar’s Cherif Younousse & Ahmed Tijan as key turning points in their journey to the World Championship podium.
“During the Round of 32 against Argentina, Amieva & Bueno were on fire, they played really well in the first set and were leading 19-14. At this moment, we switched our mindset and came back to win 22-20 which is one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever made. Through this comeback, I realized that everything is possible and we have the capacity to beat everyone,” noted Rotar.
“There were many crazy moments that I experienced during the World Championship but one of them was very special. The game against Cherif & Ahmed from Qatar was probably the biggest and craziest match of my life. We saved 8 match points in the tie-breaker and then won 23-21. I’ve watched the game many times and I still feel the emotions. To beat one of the best teams in the world and also to qualify to the quarterfinals was unbelievable,” asserted Rotar.
Téo Rotar of France was emotional after their Round of 16 victory over Qatar at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Adelaide, Australia
Even more exciting was the fact that Rotar made his World Championship debut while injured and pushed himself all the way to the podium despite the pain on his ribs.
“This experience taught me that confidence is the key. My rib was still injured at the beginning of the World Championship, but I had full trust in my physio, partner, coach and of course in myself. The challenge was to set up a protocol with the physio to reduce the pain as much as possible,” recalled Rotar.
“I knew we had trained hard for a year together to reach this goal and what I wanted more than anything was not to have any regrets. I felt it was my time to shine. I also realized that the age is not an excuse, it’s not because I’m only 21 and it’s my first World Championship that I can’t beat players who have played at many World Championships and have more experience.”
Téo Rotar & Arnaud Gauthier-Rat are the highest ranked French pair on the FIVB World Rankings
The bronze medal performance in Adelaide has lifted Rotar & Gauthier-Rat to 14th place on the World Rankings but the 21-year-old insists that they are mature enough to deal with the pressure of their new-found status.
“I think success can bring new pressure for some players, but I’m used to it since I won my first U19 World title in 2021. I know how it feels to switch from being the underdog to being someone others want to beat. For this I’m trying to stay focused on my game and my identity.
“My consistency has improved, I feel I’m more relaxed and free on the court. I know better how to manage a game but also a tournament. The fact that I know how to handle my emotions and the pressure allows me to have a better global level without having too many fluctuations.”
The 2026 season will mark the second one that Rotar & Gauthier-Rat will be playing together as a pair. Rotar, who enjoyed a long partnership with his junior teammate Canet, is optimistic that he can reach greater heights with Gauthier-Rat this season and even surpass their 2025 achievements.
“Since I started beach volleyball, I still have the same motivation because I know the goals I want to reach in my career. Now I know that I have crossed an important milestone, maybe even faster than I expected so I just want to continue like that.
“For me, the next chapter will be a continuation of 2025. I now know what I need to succeed. I want to keep learning and growing as a player, but also as a human. I’d like to share my story with as many people as possible and to be an inspiration for future generations.
“My main goals have been the same since I was a kid. I want to push my limits, make history, and stand on European, World, and Olympic podiums. The faster I grow, the faster I can reach those goals,” said Rotar, who won the 2023 U20 European Championship title with Canet.
Téo Rotar (right) of France vies for the ball with Qatar’s Cherif Younousse at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Adelaide, Australia
Individually, Rotar is keen on improving his game and believes fans will see a hungrier version of him this season.
“I’m a very curious person, and I still have a lot to learn in all areas (physical, mental, technical, and tactical). I try to take confidence from what I’ve achieved without letting it make me comfortable. Past success gives me the belief, but the hunger comes from knowing I can still improve. I focus on the work, stay curious, and keep setting higher standards for myself. Now, my goal is to become the best version of myself by reaching my full potential.
“I want to thank my fans for their support. Their energy means a lot to me and I hope my journey inspires them to keep chasing their goals. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward with them by my side.”
