Jonatan Hellvig remains focused on improving and finding new ways to develop his game, despite already winning Olympic and world titles alongside David Ahman and helping redefine how beach volleyball is played.

Rather than dwelling on what he has already accomplished, the Swedish star knows there is always room to improve. That outlook continues to influence the way he trains and competes.

“Having a winning mentality means that you always want to push yourself every day in training,” Hellvig said. “You want to be better, and you never settle or think that you are good enough. You always want to improve, and in those most important moments, you really have to believe in yourself.”

Reaching the top of the sport can often bring new challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining motivation. Hellvig says that has never been an issue for him and Ahman. Their focus remains on winning matches and continuing to develop their game.

“Winning the Olympics and the World Championships, we are still motivated to keep going and to keep improving,” Hellvig said. “We always want to win matches, and we know that we have a lot of things to improve. So that is what keeps us motivated.”

Hellvig’s drive to improve also influences the way he approaches the biggest moments in a match.

The Swedish pair’s trademark jump set and second-ball attacks have become defining features of their game, often appearing when the pressure is at its highest. While those decisions may seem risky, they are the result of years of training and repetition.

“In those most crucial and important moments, we have always tried to believe in ourselves and go for the jump set or the second ball,” Hellvig said. “I think our coaches really pushed us to do this from the beginning. So, in a way, we are trained to do that.”

This World Volleyball Day on July 7, celebrate the moments that taught you to trust your training. Share your volleyball story using #WorldVolleyballDay.