Olympics News and Info

Gold Medalists Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Lose, 112-Match Winning Streak Snapped

Filed under: USA

The beach volleyball gold medal duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh were portrayed by NBC as an all but unbeatable team during the Olympic Games. But in their first match after the Olympics, they were beaten.

May-Treanor and Walsh lost a match for the first time in more than a year on Sunday, as Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh beat them in a tournament in Mason, Ohio.

The loss snapped May-Treanor and Walsh’s winning streak at 112 matches. Their last lost was on August 19, 2007, against Branagh and Youngs. May-Treanor and Walsh are 10-2 in finals matches against Branagh and Youngs.

The fans got their money’s worth in the match, which at 1 hours, 45 minutes, was the second longest women’s match in the history of women’s pro beach volleyball.

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Kerri Walsh, Misty May-Treanor Defend Their Bikinis: ‘Why Don’t Divers Get Questions?’

Filed under: USA

When American beach volleyball gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor visited with David Letterman, the subject of the bikinis they wear in the sand came up:

“As I watch beach volleyball, I find it more interesting than regular indoor volleyball,” Letterman told his guests, clearly referring to their apparel. “Was it the International Olympic Committee that said, ‘Here, wear these outfits.’”

Walsh said the bikinis just make sense in the sand. May-Treanor added, “How come divers never get questions like why don’t you wear a full sweat suit?”

Good question. I’m still not totally sure why men wear shirts, though.

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Kerri Walsh, Misty May-Treanor Win Gold in Rain Soaked Beach Volleyball

Filed under: Americas, Beijing, USA

There isn’t much wonder why women’s beach volleyball has taken off as an Olympic sport.

As a sport itself, it is the ultimate teamwork event where two women work together as one for a common goal. It can be graceful and powerful with outstanding athleticism on display. Oh, and it also has women in bikinis diving around on sand and smacking each other’s bottoms after good plays.

All the male fantasy needs is some water to come falling from the sky … which happened in the gold medal match in Beijing today.

Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor fought through the rain and defended their Olympic gold. They defeated the Chinese team of Wang Jie and Tian Jian 21-18, 21-18.

Walsh and May-Treanor have won 108 straight matches and two Olympic gold medals. Just like in Athens four years ago, they didn’t lose a set in these games, no matter what the weather.

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