Never before has the women’s game been so deep. Six different teams have won three and four star tournament gold medals from the last seven events.
And it’s that kind of statistic that Anouk believes makes for a fascinating 10 days of competition when the Red Bull Beach Arena opens its doors for the World Championships in Hamburg at the end of June.
“Overall the level is really, really tight – a team that can finish 25th can win it,” she says. “With every tournament we’re finding that little bit more. There’s still time until Hamburg so there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic.”
Vienna two years ago was the duo’s first World Championships together but not their first individually.
Both players tasted World Champs experience in 2013 and 2015 with their former teammates; Joana with Nadine Zumkehr and Anouk alongside Isabelle Forrer – two very experienced beach volleyball players with whom they also played together with at the 2016 Olympics.
“Nadine helped me and pushed me to reach a really good level,” explains Heidrich. “I’m thankful for that. Since then I’ve improved my game and my mental strength.”
So with experience behind them and with a fully-fit Joana back on the sand, who’s to say the pair can’t make history and become the first Swiss women’s team to win a World Championship medal.
“Of course we’re heading for Hamburg looking to better Vienna. We’ll probably run into a Brazilian team – we always do [they played three Brazilian teams at 2017 championships, losing to Larissa/Talita in the Last 16],” laughs Anouk.
“But we’ll go there excited, proud to represent Switzerland and confident of making a good result.”