Germany and Sweden reached the men's beach volleyball final at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, while the women's gold medal match will pit Canada against Brazil.

Clemens Wickler of Germany spikes the ball as Christian Sandie Soerum of Norway attempts a block during the beach volleyball men's semifinal between Nils Rhlers/Clemens Wickler of Germany and Anders Berntsen Mol/Christian Sandie Soerum of Norway at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

In the men's competition, defending champions Anders Berntsen Mol and Christian Sandlie Sorum of Norway were upset by Germany's Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler, losing 2-1.

Mol attributed their loss to a lack of rest compared to their opponents. "To be honest, they were more rested than us. They had yesterday to rest and we didn't. That actually made a big difference today," Mol said.

"We didn't find our game today. But this is sport, this is why we love it and hate it sometimes. It's brutal," he added.

In the other men's semifinal, the world's top-ranked pair from Sweden, David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig, dominated Qatar's Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, securing a spot in the final.

On the women's side, Canada's Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson will face Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Eduarda Santos Lisboa for the gold medal.

The men's gold medal match takes place on Friday, with the women's event on Saturday.