Sand, school, law enforcement & motherhood

It has been quite a journey for Doris Schwaiger since she last played on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour as the Austrian beach icon celebrates her 36th birthday today.

“I will celebrate my birthday at my home in Rastenfeld, a village in Waldviertel, together with my family,” said Schwaiger. “We’ll focus on relaxing and having just a normal Sunday. After breakfast together with my husband Paul and my son Felix, we’ll drive to my parent’s place and have lunch.”

A two-time Olympian and European champion with her younger sister (Stefanie), Doris Schwaiger said that after playing in her last competitive events in 2014, she finished studies (Training and Sports) and decided to become a police officer. "I married my husband Paul after 10 years of relationship and after 18 years together we are still happy. This year in January our son Felix was born. This changed both our lives a lot for the best.”

The Schwaigers rank with the Salgados (Carolina and Maria Clara) of Brazil, the Nystroms (Emilia and Ericka) of Finland and Yanchulovas (Lina and Petia) of Bulgaria as the top "Sister Acts" in World Tour history. There were 42 total matches among the four teams with the Schwaigers posting a 17-11 match mark against the other three sister pairs.

When asked about playing any of the sister combinations, Schwaiger said “the special thing was that we often trained together with the Nystroms. We became good friends with Emilia and Erika. But on the court, we were opponents as we were with any other teams."

Doris Schwaiger is one of a few beach volleyball players that played with only one partner - her sister Stefanie, who finished her career in 2017 and is now studying in Switzerland to be a physiotherapist. The pair competed in 156 FIVB and European confederation events together during a 13-season period that started in 2002 when the Austrians competed in youth events.

The Schwaiger partnership ended in May 2014 with a fourth-place finish in their final World Tour event in Prague, Czech Republic followed by a gold medal finish at a European event on home sand in Baden highlighted by a three-set semifinal win over the Nystroms and a gold medal match over Elsa Baquerizo and Liliana Fernandez of Spain.

“We were never in the situation of thinking of playing with another partner,” said Doris Schwaiger. “There were too many advantages to playing with my sister to think of another partner. It can be very demanding to work with a family member, especially when "Schwaiger Sisters" was a whole family business, with our father doing the management as well. But all in all, it was the best solution for both of us.”

Over the course of 13 seasons, the Schwaigers posted a 370-295 FIVB and European match mark (55.6 winning percentage) with three gold medals, nine appearances in finals, 17 podium placements, 19 final fours and 40 elite eight finishes. All three titles on the European tour were highlighted by the continental championship in 2013.

“The last point by my sister at the 2013 European finale in Klagenfurt is easily my most memorable moment,” said Doris Schwaiger. “It is a thrill to win any match in front of family, friends and fans, but even more pleasing to be awarded a gold medal and being on top of the podium.”

The Schwaigers placed fifth at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics by winning six of 11 matches. One of their Summer Games setbacks was memorable as the Schwaigers were the only team to win a set against three-time Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States.

“It was a great honour and experience to participate at the Olympic Games,” said Doris Schwaiger. “I often think back to these events and follow them on television now. Starting and completing a beach volleyball career was the best I could have done. Now, I have a different life with new challenges.”