Javier Bello

{{short description|Spanish-born British beach volleyball player}}

{{Infobox volleyball biography

|name=Javier Bello

|image=Javier Bello at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.jpg

|caption=Javier at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

|full_name=Luis Javier Bello Fernandez Echevarria

|nationality=British

|birth_date={{birth date and age|2000|7|20|df=yes}}

|birth_place=Madrid, Spain

|height=1.82 m

|weight=80 kg

|currentteammate=Joaquin Bello

|currentyears=2016–

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}}}}

|medaltemplates-title=Honours

|updated=

}}

Javier Bello (born 20 July 2000) is a British beach volleyball player.

Together with his twin brother Joaquin, they are the current British No. 1 team. They made history by winning the Elite16 tournament in Rio de Janeiro, the highest level of World Tour competition, marking the greatest volleyball achievement for a British team. They are also 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalists, 8-time World Tour medalists and 4-time British champions.

Junior career

Javier and Joaquin started playing volleyball at the age of 6 at their local club in Madrid. In 2011, their family moved to London and they joined [https://www.richmondvolleyball.co.uk/ Richmond Volleyball Club], where they won multiple national championships in indoor and beach volleyball in all the underage categories.{{Cite web |last=Cumber |first=Robert |date=11 August 2016 |title=Volleyball twins net coveted place at School Games |url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/volleyball-twins-net-place-school-11731688 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903193814/https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/volleyball-twins-net-place-school-11731688 |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=MyLondon |language=en}}

In 2016, the brothers started their international beach volleyball career and earned their first England cap at the U17 [http://www.nevza.org/ NEVZA] Beach Volleyball Championships, eventually taking the gold medal.{{Cite web |last=Lucy |first=Dyer |date=19 April 2017 |title=Isleworth's Javier Bello keeps Youth Commonwealth Games in sight after financial boost |url=https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/sport/19042017-javier-bello-youth-commonwealth-games/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903194109/https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/sport/19042017-javier-bello-youth-commonwealth-games/ |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=South West Londoner |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Rijvers |first=David |date=24 July 2016 |title=Bellos wins Englands first ever Junior Beach Volleyball NEVZA gold medal |url=https://www.richmondvolleyball.co.uk/news/bellos-wins-englands-first-ever-junior-beach-volleyball-nevza-gold-medal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903194229/https://www.richmondvolleyball.co.uk/events/bellos-wins-englands-first-ever-junior-beach-volleyball-nevza-gold-medal |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=Richmond Volleyball}}

Beach volleyball made its Commonwealth Games debut in the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas. There, the duo won gold, helping England to top the medal table.{{Cite news |last=Garside |first=Kevin |date=11 June 2019 |title=Meet the Bello brothers: the twins looking to put beach volleyball on the map in England |work=iNews |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/joaquin-javier-bello-brothers-beach-volleyball-investment-funding-team-gb-301071 |url-status=live |access-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903194333/https://inews.co.uk/sport/joaquin-javier-bello-brothers-beach-volleyball-investment-funding-team-gb-301071 |archive-date=3 September 2021}}

Whilst in the middle of their A-levels, the Bello brothers qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, making them the first ever British team to qualify for this competition.{{Cite news |last=Le Roux |first=Adam |date=5 October 2018 |title=Joaquin & Javier Bello: The beach volleyball brothers aiming for Youth Olympic gold in Buenos Aires |work=Sports Gazette |url=https://sportsgazette.co.uk/local-brothers-aiming-for-youth-olympic-gold-in-buenos-aires/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903195344/https://sportsgazette.co.uk/local-brothers-aiming-for-youth-olympic-gold-in-buenos-aires/ |archive-date=3 September 2021}}{{Cite news |date=5 October 2018 |title=Bahamas to Buenos Aires for Bello brothers |work=Team England |url=https://teamengland.org/news/bahamas-to-buenos-aires-for-bello-brothers |url-status=live |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903195501/https://teamengland.org/news/bahamas-to-buenos-aires-for-bello-brothers |archive-date=3 September 2021}} They clinched the 5th and last European spot for the Games by beating Hungary in the last playoff match.{{Cite web |date=11 June 2018 |title=Bello boys seal Youth Olympic Games spot |url=https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/5789/bello-boys-seal-youth-olympic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903195559/https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/5789/bello-boys-seal-youth-olympic |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=Volleyball England}} Representing Team GB for their first time,{{Cite web |date=6 October 2018 |title=British twins hope for beach volleyball glory |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/british-twins-hope-for-beach-volleyball-glory |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903195643/https://olympics.com/en/news/british-twins-hope-for-beach-volleyball-glory |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=Olympics.org}} the brothers lost in the quarterfinal against host country Argentina, ending up in 5th place.{{Cite web |date=1 November 2018 |title=Bello brothers balance intense year on and off the beach |url=https://www.tass.gov.uk/2018/11/01/bello-brothers-balance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903195747/https://www.tass.gov.uk/2018/11/01/bello-brothers-balance/ |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=TASS |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=16 October 2018 |title=The end of the journey: Bello brothers in Buenos Aires |url=https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/5839/the-end-of-the-journey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903195912/https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/5839/the-end-of-the-journey |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=Volleyball England}}

They finished in 5th place at the U19 World Championships in Nanjing, China - Britain’s highest ever finish at any world junior event.

Senior career

Javier played his first World Tour event in Aydin, Turkey in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Javier Bello |url=https://www.fivb.com/en/beachvolleyball/beachplayersdatabase/156658-javier-bello |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=FIVB}}

In 2019, the twins won a bronze medal in Rubavu, Rwanda after being defeated by the eventual champions Japan in the semifinal. It was the first ever World Tour medal for a British men’s team.{{Cite web |date=27 September 2019 |title=World Tour bronzes for England's beach stars |url=https://www.britishvolleyball.org/news/world-tour-bronzes-for-englands-beach-stars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903192849/https://www.britishvolleyball.org/news/world-tour-bronzes-for-englands-beach-stars |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=3 September 2021 |website=British Volleyball |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title='Bello brothers' encourage exercise at home during lockdown |url=https://hounslowherald.com/bello-brothers-encourage-exercise-at-home-during-lockdown-p12006-313.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903204155/https://hounslowherald.com/HH120221.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=Hounslow Herald}}

In 2021, they won their first World Tour gold medal in Cortegaça, Portugal, the first in British history.{{Cite web |date=16 September 2021 |title=Brilliant Bellos achieve British best on World Tour |url=https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/6293/brilliant-bellos-achieve-british-best |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903204507/https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/6293/brilliant-bellos-achieve-british-best |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=Volleyball England}}{{Cite news |date=18 September 2021 |title=Bello brothers record historic beach volleyball victory |work=Team England |url=https://teamengland.org/news/bello-brothers-record-historic-beach-volleyball-victory |url-status=live |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903204643/https://teamengland.org/news/bello-brothers-record-historic-beach-volleyball-victory |archive-date=3 September 2021}}{{Cite web |date=15 August 2021 |title=English and Kiwi teams claim historic gold medals in Cortegaça |url=https://www.cev.eu/articles/beach-volleyball/english-and-kiwi-teams-claim-historic-gold-medals-in-cortegaca/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029184601/https://www.cev.eu/articles/beach-volleyball/english-and-kiwi-teams-claim-historic-gold-medals-in-cortegaca/ |archive-date=29 October 2021 |access-date=29 October 2021 |website=CEV}} They followed that with another medal, a bronze at the World Tour event in Nijmegen.{{Cite web |date=22 September 2021 |title=Brilliant bronze for Team Bello |url=https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/6303/brilliant-bronze-for-team-bello |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029183853/https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/6303/brilliant-bronze-for-team-bello |archive-date=29 October 2021 |access-date=29 October 2021 |website=Volleyball England}}

In 2022, the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) replaced the FIVB World Tour and the Bello brothers won another bronze medal in Cortegaça, Portugal.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the brothers competed for Team England at the Smithfield arena, later nicknamed the "Bellodrome”.{{Cite news |last=Alderman |first=Elgan |date=6 August 2022 |title=Commonwealth Games: English beach volleyball duo eye golden sands |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/article/commonwealth-games-english-beach-volleyball-duo-eye-golden-sands-5xsdssj6m |url-status=live |access-date=15 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806115935/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/commonwealth-games-english-beach-volleyball-duo-eye-golden-sands-5xsdssj6m |archive-date=6 August 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth Games Beach Volleyball {{!}} Team England |url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-sports/volleyball |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915173240/https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-sports/volleyball |archive-date=2022-09-15 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Team England |language=en}} They achieved a historic bronze medal, the first for England at the Commonwealth Games, just 5 years on from their triumph at the Commonwealth Youth Games.{{Cite web |last=Charlesworth |first=David |date=7 August 2022 |title=Bello twins set sights on Olympic bid after historic beach volleyball bronze |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-madrid-paris-smithfield-canada-b2140226.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807205852/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-madrid-paris-smithfield-canada-b2140226.html |archive-date=7 August 2022 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=8 August 2022 |title=Commonwealth Games: Beach volleyball bronze for Bello twins |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/athletics/article/commonwealth-games-beach-volleyball-bronze-for-bello-twins-pzpbtmqls |url-status=live |access-date=15 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808182619/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/commonwealth-games-beach-volleyball-bronze-for-bello-twins-pzpbtmqls |archive-date=8 August 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web |date=7 August 2022 |title=Bello brothers bag brilliant bronze |url=https://teamengland.org/news/bello-brothers-bag-brilliant-bronze |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808103152/https://teamengland.org/news/bello-brothers-bag-brilliant-bronze |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=Team England}}

In 2023, the team reached the quarterfinals of the European Championship in Vienna, defeating former world champions Brouwer/ Meeuwsen (NED).{{Cite news |last=Alex |first=Seftel |date=9 October 2023 |title=Javier and Joaquin Bello: Beach volleyball twins target Olympics |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/67032623 |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224162805/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/67032623.amp |archive-date=24 December 2023}} They followed it up with a bronze medal in the BPT Challenge in Goa, India.{{Cite web |date=23 October 2023 |title=Bellos claim bronze in India |url=https://volleyballengland.org/article/730/bellos-claim-bronze-in-india |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224163350/https://volleyballengland.org/article/730/bellos-claim-bronze-in-india |archive-date=24 December 2023 |website=Volleyball England}}

In 2024, the Bello's won another 2 bronze medals at the BPT Challenges in Recife, Brazil and in Nuvali, Philippines.{{Cite news |last=Gunston |first=Jo |date=26 March 2024 |title=Bello Twins train through cold English winters for Paris 2024 Beach Volleyball Berth |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/british-bello-twins-training-icy-sand-paris-2024-beach-volleyball |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610203842/https://olympics.com/en/news/british-bello-twins-training-icy-sand-paris-2024-beach-volleyball |archive-date=10 June 2024 |work=Olympics.com}}{{Cite web |title=Bello brothers' 2024 in review |url=https://www.volleyballengland.org/article/1357/bello-brothers-2024-in-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228140055/https://www.volleyballengland.org/article/1357/bello-brothers-2024-in-review |archive-date=2024-12-28 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Volleyball England |language=en}}

They then went on to record the "greatest ever volleyball result" for a British team by winning the Elite16 tournament in Rio de Janeiro, the highest level of World Tour competition. Coming all the way from the qualification rounds, they shocked the Olympic champions Mol and Sørum of Norway in the semifinals, and added a hard-fought victory over Argentina in the finals to secure the first major title for England in the iconic Copacabana beach stadium.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-11-10 |title=Bellos complete their Cinderella story with first ever Beach Pro Tour gold |url=https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvolleyball/competitions/beach-pro-tour/news/bellos-complete-their-cinderella-story-with-first-ever-beach-pro-tour-gold |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Volleyball World |language=en}}

Javier has won 3 British Championship titles, winning the UK Beach Tour Finals in 2020, 2021 and 2023.{{Cite web |date=16 September 2020 |title=UKBT crowns beach champions |url=https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/6144/ukbt-crowns-beach-champions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903204755/https://www.volleyballengland.org/news/article/6144/ukbt-crowns-beach-champions |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=Volleyball England}}{{Cite web |date=14 September 2021 |title=UKBT GRAND SLAM FINALS 2021! |url=https://www.ukbeachtour.com/news-item?n=9375 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916111414/https://www.ukbeachtour.com/news-item?n=9375 |archive-date=16 September 2021 |access-date=18 September 2021 |website=UK Beach Tour}}{{Cite web |date=11 September 2023 |title=Bournemouth stages sizzling Grand Slam Finals |url=https://www.ukbeachtour.com/post/bournemouth-hosts-triumphant-grand-slam-finals-in-sizzling-conditions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224161157/https://www.ukbeachtour.com/post/bournemouth-hosts-triumphant-grand-slam-finals-in-sizzling-conditions |archive-date=24 December 2023 |website=UK Beach Tour}}

With his brother, he achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 13 in December 2024.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=FIVB World Ranking ARCHIVE |url=https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvolleyball/world-ranking/men |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501010647/https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvolleyball/world-ranking/men |archive-date=2025-05-01 |access-date= |website=Internet Archive}}

Personal life

After moving to London in 2011, Javier attended Gunnersbury Catholic School in Brentford, London.{{Cite web |date=15 August 2013 |title=Volleyball champions of GB ! |url=http://www.gunnersbury.com/news/?pid=60&nid=21&storyid=80 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210903210939/http://www.gunnersbury.com/news/?pid=60&nid=21&storyid=80 |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=Gunnersbury}}

The brothers train in Barnes{{Cite news |date=17 June 2020 |title=Javier Bello fully focused on the future, Birmingham 2022 and beyond |work=Team England |url=https://teamengland.org/news/javier-bello-fully-focused-on-the-future-birmingham-2022-and-beyond |url-status=live |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903205243/https://teamengland.org/news/javier-bello-fully-focused-on-the-future-birmingham-2022-and-beyond |archive-date=3 September 2021}} and are coached by their father Luis Bello, a former professional player and coach. Beach volleyball is a full family affair with their mum coordinating their support team and their younger brother following on their footsteps in 2023 with a bronze medal in the BPT Futures in Bujumbura, Burundi.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 February 2021 |title=Dreaming of the Olympics |url=https://hollowayexpress.org.uk/dreaming-of-the-olympics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903205437/https://hollowayexpress.org.uk/dreaming-of-the-olympics/ |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=Holloway Express |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ferraro |first=Federico |date=14 July 2022 |title=Getting to know – England’s Bello brothers |url=https://www.cev.eu/articles/beach-volleyball/getting-to-know-england-s-bello-brothers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714200034/https://www.cev.eu/articles/beach-volleyball/getting-to-know-england-s-bello-brothers/ |archive-date=14 July 2022 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=CEV}}

Javier graduated from Royal Holloway University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

References

External links

{{FIVB beach player|156658}}
{{Beach Volleyball Database|16932}}
[https://www.britishvolleyball.org/athletes Beach GB Athletes] at the British Volleyball Federation
[https://www.volleyballengland.org/national-teams/england-beach-volleyball/senior-men Senior Men] at Volleyball England
[https://web.archive.org/web/20210902160305/https://www.ukbeachtour.com/player?p=1951 Javier Bello] at the UK Beach Tour (archived)
{{Olympedia|2503059}}
{{Team England|javier-bello}}
{{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|58281}}

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London

Bello

Category:British men's beach volleyball players

Category:English men's beach volleyball players

Category:Beach volleyball defenders

Category:FIVB World Tour award winners

Category:Beach volleyball players at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in beach volleyball

Category:Beach volleyball players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Category:Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Category:21st-century English sportsmen