The Pacific may be famous around the world for its white sandy beaches but beach volleyball is still a relatively new sport in the islands. It is becoming more popular in Vanuatu thanks to a couple of medal winning performances by two women who are now inspiring a generation of schoolgirls.

Miller Elwin, Vanuatu beach volleyball team: I like to play beach volleyball. It is my favourite game in my life.

Henriette Iatika, Vanuatu beach volleyball team: My first competition when I go to Oceania in Samoa and we win the bronze.

Tania Nugent: Henriette Iatika and Miller Elwin both started playing beach volleyball in 2006 and in just two short years in the sport, they collected a swag of medals representing Vanuatu.
Their first, a bronze medal at the 2007 Oceania Championships, was followed by another bronze at the South Pacific Games in Samoa. At the 2008 Oceania Championships in Tonga, they struck gold.

Miller Elwin: I'm feeling very so happy to take a gold medal. It's the first time for Vanuatu to take the gold medal in beach volleyball.

Henry Tavoa, Vanuatu Olympic Committee: It is a first for beach volleyball but more than that, in the Oceania Championship level of competition, I would say a first in Vanuatu sports.

Deb Wooster, Vanuatu Beach Volleyball Association: They come back and the kids see them as positive sports role models. They see that Miller and Henriette go overseas, they achieve success, so the kids look up to them and they have a dream to be like them.

Vanessa, student teacher: Mi ting se hemi gud lo introdusim lo ol skuls blong ol pikinini lo fuja tu ol i save patisipet lo gem ia. (I think it would be good to introduce it to schools so children in the future can participate in this game.)

Deb Wooster: We focus on the women because there's a lot of talent in the women and a lot of boys in Vanuatu especially, play soccer.

Tania Nugent: When you see Henriette and Millers gold medal does that encourage you?

Linline Matauatu, Vanuatu national squad: Yes. Makes me to play strong.

Tania Nugent: What's your goal?

Linline Matauatu: Gold medal.

Deb Wooster: We want to be the first Pacific nation to qualify for an Olympic Games and we're aiming for London 2012.

Tania Nugent: Both Henriette and Miller hope to be selected for the next Olympics. But they could well have some competition for a place on the team.

Henry Tavoa: They have championed their cause really because against all odds they have managed to establish beach volleyball.

Tania Nugent: Do you think out there on all those many islands of Vanuatu that there's other talented players that you could uncover?

Williams Worwor, National Coach: Absolutely, absolutely, yes. While in the outer islands they're playing indoor rules, they're used to the situations, the wind and the sun so, teach them how to play beach volleyball and they will become some of the best Vanuatu players.

Henry Tavoa: Beach Volleyball, because of its simplicity, we see it taking off in the rural communities and not to mention, we have no excuse, we have beaches everywhere.