Beach Volleyball, Women

After winning the 2004 gold medal, Misty May and Kerri Walsh had continued their dominance of the women’s pro tour and were overwhelming favorites in Beijing. Since the 2004 Olympics both women had married, and Misty was now Misty May-Treanor, married to major league baseball player Matt Treanor. Walsh married pro beach player Casey Jennings, but was still known only as Kerri Walsh. As they had in 2004, May-Treanor/Walsh played 7 matches and 14 sets, and won them all. But in general the matches were closer than they had been in 2008. The final was played in a downpour against the Chinese pair of Tian Jia and Wang Jie, a rematch of the 2007 World Championships final. Tian and Wang led the first set at 18-17, but May-Treanor and Walsh won the last four points to prevail, 21-18. The Americans got an early lead in the second set, but the Chinese pulled back to lead 9-8. However, May-Treanor and Walsh had too much in the end and won, 21-18, 21-18. The second Chinese team of Xue Chen and Zhang Xi won the bronze medal.