Motherhood has given Nina Brunner a different perspective on beach volleyball, but it has not changed her competitive drive. Returning to international competition in 2026, the Swiss star remains determined to perform at her best.
“Now that I’m a mother, one thing that has definitely changed is that I’m much more relaxed about certain things,” Brunner said. “I know that there is something even bigger and more important in life.
“At the same time, I’m still very ambitious. Every day and in every match, I want to perform at my best and get the very most out of myself.”
Returning to competition after becoming a mother brought a different set of emotions. When Brunner stepped onto the court for her first Beach Pro Tour match in Saquarema, Brazil, she was returning to the sport she knew but entering unfamiliar territory at the same time.
“It was a really special feeling for me when I played my very first match again in Saquarema, where it all started,” Brunner said. “Of course, I was nervous before the match and wondering, ‘What will this feel like? Can I still do all of this?’
“But once the match began, everything somehow felt like it used to. Maybe not quite yet in terms of my level of play, but I felt comfortable on the court again. It was wonderful to feel that once more.”
Returning to competition reinforced something Brunner has learned throughout her career that progress often begins with believing that more is possible than it first appears.
Motherhood has added a new chapter to her volleyball journey, but it has not changed the mindset that helped her reach the top level of the sport.
“I think I would tell her that it is worth fighting for your dreams,” Brunner said. “If you believe in yourself, put in the work, and keep telling yourself that you can do it, you can achieve far more than you might have imagined at the beginning.”
This World Volleyball Day on 7 July, celebrate the moments that challenged you to keep going. Share the experiences, setbacks and achievements that shaped your volleyball story using #WorldVolleyballDay.
