With reigning champions falling just short, old favourites picking up big wins, a near clean sweep and plenty of that special atmosphere you can only get on the sand, the first kings and queens of this year's edition of the Beach Wrestling World Series were crowned. Let's dive right in and see who came out on top when the sand stopped flying.

The home crowd were overjoyed to see a Mexican clean sweep in the women's 50kg as Mercedes Paola CASTILLO took gold after topping the group table by winning all 3 of her bouts. Ana Sofia PALACIOS took silver and Linda Sarahi CASTANEDA GAONA completed the clean sweep with bronze.

In the men's 70kg final, Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (GEO) sought revenge against Justin BENJAMIN (USA), who had defeated the Georgian great in the group matches, and his mission was accomplished as he took the gold with a 2-1 victory. Third place went to Agustín Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG), the reigning Pan American Beach Wrestling and Pan American Freestyle 65kg gold medallist, who took bronze with a 3-4 win over Mexico's Brandon ALVAREZ.

Having finished on the podium at every Beach Wrestling World Series event since 2023, reigning women's 60kg world champion Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO would seem to be a safe bet for a top three finish, but she lost to Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG) in the semi-finals and then lost the bronze to Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) to finish fourth. The final saw the first ever gold medal for Cuba as Yaynelis SANZ took home the gold with a win over Castillo in the final to add to the gold she won on the mats in the Senior Pan American 57kg division.

Hot on the heels of his teammate's gold in the women's 60kg, reigning U23 Pan American champion Geannis GARZON became Cuba's first ever men's gold medallist when he ended Georgia's Nika Kentchadze's fairytale comeback in the men's 80kg with a 3-1 win to take gold, with Yael PEREZ (MEX) taking bronze.

It was a great day's work for Greek women's 70kg sand superstar Dimitra ANDROUTSOU, who not only took the opening gold medal of the series but also the women's top technique prize for a superb throw. She took home the gold and 10,000 ranking points for finishing the group undefeated. Mexicans Debanhi TAPIA and Michelle OLEA took silver and bronze respectively as the hosts' medal haul continued to grow.

In the men's 90kg, a raucous home crowd got behind Jose VARGAS and inspired him to a 4-1 win as the Mexican wrestler landed a 3-point finish with less than 2 seconds remaining to take gold, much to the delight of his countrymen who saw him defeat Cesar UBICO (GUA) in the gold medal match. Returning Georgian powerhouse Dato PIRUZASHVILI took the bronze, defeating Argentina's Jorge LLANO.

After looking almost unstoppable in the women's +70kg for the past two years, there was a shock when two-time and defending world champion Eliana BOMMARITO (USA) lost to Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG) in the semi-finals, but showed her resilience by bouncing back to take bronze with a 4-0 win over Luz Maria HERNANDEZ (MEX). Machuca was paired with Milaimy De La Caridad MARIN (CUB) in the final but had no answer to Marine's power as the Cuban needed just 31 seconds to win 3-0.

Another Pan American gold medallist looking to add Beach Wrestling World Series gold to his collection was Oscar PINO in the men's +90kg, who was looking to complete a clean sweep for Cuba as the 4th of 4 athletes to take home the top prize; however, he came up against reigning champion Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO) who gave a masterclass in a thumping 3-0 win over the big Cuban. 2023 champion Fatih YASARLI (TUR) took bronze when he defeated Kyle FERRITER (USA) in the 3/4 match for the men's top technique award.

What a start this has been to the Beach Wrestling World Series in Monterrey and if Poreč, Croatia is half as good on the 30 May - 1 June then we have the makings of a series for the ages.

Results Monterrey Beach Wrestling World Series
Women
50kg
1- Mercedes Paola CASTILLO (MEX)
2- Ana Sofia PALACIOS (MEX)
3- Linda Sarahi CASTANEDA (MEX)

60kg
1- Yaynelis SANZ (CUB)
2- Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG)
3- Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)

70kg
1- Dimitra ANDROUTSOU (GRE)
2- Debanhi TAPIA (MEX)
3- Michelle OLEA (MEX)

+70kg
1- Milaimy De La Caridad MARIN (CUB)
2- Linda MAHCUCA (ARG)
3– Eliana BOMMARITO (USA)

Men
70kg
1- Levan KELEKSHASHVILI (GEO)
2- Justin BENJAMIN (USA)
3- Agustín Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)

80kg
1- Geannis GARZON (CUB)
2- Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
3- Yael PEREZ (MEX)

90kg
1- Jose VARGAS (MEX)
2- Cesar UBICO (GUA)
3- Dato PIRUZASHVILI (GEO)

+90kg
1- Mamuka KORDZAIA (GEO)
2- Oscar PINO (CUB)
3- Fatih YASARLI (TUR)

Women’s Top Technique Winner - Dimitra ANDROUTSOU (GRE)
Men’s Top Technique Winner – Fatih YASARLI (TUR)

Full results here.