Americans May-Treanor, Walsh Make History on the Beijing Beach

 

BEIJING, August 21, 2008.- The U.S. team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive gold medal in women's Olympic beach volleyball (2004, 2008) by defeating top-ranked Tian Jia and Wang Jie of China 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) on Thursday in the pouring rain at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Grounds.

 

A packed house of 12,200 sang, chanted and clapped in pastel-colored rain ponchos while enjoying the hard-fought match.

 

“Although the rain makes the ball heavier and can interfere with vision, the rain made it better,” said Walsh. “We felt like warriors out there. It's an honor to win this gold medal. It was a team effort."

 

The second-seeded May-Treanor and Walsh have not lost a match or set in Olympic competition. May-Treanor and Walsh's match winning streak sits at 108 (international and domestic). No team, U.S. or international, has won two Olympic gold medals in beach volleyball.

 

Thursday's win was the sixth in eight meetings with Tian and Wang, who are the last team to defeat May-Treanor and Walsh on the FIVB World Tour. May-Treanor and Walsh have won their last 69 FIVB matches since losing 21-19 and 21-19 to Tian and Wang last year in a semifinal match at the Norwegian Grand Slam on June 30 in Stavanger.