Kerri WALSH et Misty MAY TREANOR. ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumawirewestphotos173644
UPDATE AUGUST 8, 2012: Check out photos from Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor’s record-breaking gold medal performance in London.
California seems to be the place to breed world champion beach volleyball players. Exhibit A: Kerri Lee Walsh and Misty May-Treanor. They first met in 2000 after Misty’s partnership with Holly McPeak ended in 5th place due to an abdominal injury on Misty’s part at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Kerri and Misty took the next two seasons to train and mold to each others’ strengths, experiencing as many games as they could. They went undefeated in the 2003 AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) Tour and were recognized as “Team of the Year”.
They won gold medal in the 2004 Athens games and again in the 2008 Beijing games. From when they met and began competing together until the 2008 Olympics they accrued a total of 101 matches and 18 tournaments to sit comfortably under their belts. They are hoping for a 3rd gold in the coming London 2012 games, though it will likely prove to be the most challenging for them.
Since we saw the pair in Beijing, they separated for a time. Walsh had two kids. May-Treanor tore her achilles tendon while on Dancing With The Stars, and Walsh even had a different partner for a time. The two came back together to qualify for the Olympics, but they’re third in the world rankings behind the teams from Brazil and China.
For more pictures of Misty and Kerri follow us back to Newscom!
Aug 21, 2008, Beijing, China, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the USA wins Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China during the Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the Chaoyang Park stadium. TPG Top Photo Group/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: tpgphotos010705
Misty May-Treanor of the United States jumps to return a ball to her team mate Kerry Walsh as they practice in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Beach Volleyball Center August 5, 2008. CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrltwo976115
KERRI WALSH of USA celebrates a point during the women’s semifinal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games beach volleyball event with Misty May-Treanor against Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha of Brazil in Beijing, China. ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumasportsworld085235
USA’s Misty May-Treanor (L) and Kerri Walsh hug each other after beating China’s TIan Jia (L-rear) and Wang Jie in the women’s Beach Volleyball final in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing on August 21, 2008. Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the match 2-0, bagging their second Olympic beach volleyball gold. STEPHEN SHAVER/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotos903127
Vollyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh arrive at a taping for The Late Show with David Letterman held at the Ed Sullivan Theater on August 27, 2008 in New York City. KRISTIN CALLAHAN – ACEPIXS.COM/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: acephotos104292
Kerri Walsh of the U.S. celebrates winning their women’s beach volleyball semifinal match against Brazil at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 19, 2008. SERGIO MORAES/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlthree012008
USA’s Misty May-Treanor (R) and Kerri Walsh jubilate after beating China in the women’s Beach Volleyball final in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing on August 21, 2008. Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the match 2-0, bagging their second Olympic beach volleyball gold. STEPHEN SHAVER/UPI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: upiphotos903099
You might enjoy some of our other Olympic Posts at FocalPoint:
2012 US Olympic Women’s Basketball Team
Tags: beach volleyball, gold medal, kerri walsh, london 2012, misty may-treanor, Olympics
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