TALIQUA Clancy has earned Australia's first women's beach volleyball medal at a world championships in 16 years after bringing home bronze with teammate Mariafe Artacho del Solar at the championship in Hamburg.

The Australians defeated Tanja Huberli and Nina Betschart of Switzerland in straight sets in the bronze medal match, while Canada defeated the United States for gold.

Clancy said it was an honour to achieve what Natalie Cook and Nicole Sanderson had in 2003.

"It's really special, it's just incredible that we are bronze medallists just like them now," Clancy told Volleyball Australia.

"I'm so proud of where we are at and of our legacy. There's a good women's history in Australia and it's such an honour to be part of it."

The result is a positive sign of things to come for the duo ahead of the Tokyo Olympics next year, according to Artacho del Solar.

"This is such a huge event leading to the Olympics next year and it was so important for us," she told Volleyball Australia.

"It's been an intense week, we've gone through so much adversity and I'm proud of us for staying together as a team."