Beijing, China, August 21, 2008 - Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh will appear in the Beach Volleyball record books for years to come as the Americans became the first team to repeat as Olympic champions here Thursday by defeating Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China for the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. Played in a steady rain before a capacity crowd at the 12,200-seat Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground, the second-seeded May-Treanor and Walsh posted a 21-18 and 21-18 win in 42 minutes over the top-seeded Tian and Wang to claim the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medal. “Every win is special, but this gold medal is the most important since it was in the Olympics against a host country team before a great crowd,” said Walsh, who turned 30 six days ago while competing during the first-round of elimination play. “I am humbled by this experience and grateful to have such a great partner as Misty. We are also honored to be on the same podium with two great teams from China. They are great competitors and will be a force on the international tour for years to come.” 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. The Americans have now won their last 69 FIVB matches since losing 21-19 and 21-19 to Tian and Wang last year in a semi-final match at the Norwegian Grand Slam on June 30 in Stavanger. Since winning a bronze medal at the 2006 season finale in Thailand after being defeated by Chen Xue and Xi Zhang China in the semi-finals, May-Treanor and Walsh have posted an 82-1 match mark on the international tour with 11 gold medals in 12 events. Overall, the Americans have won a team record 35 FIVB gold medals in 59 events with 44 appearances in finals. Three-time SWATCH FIVB world champions, May-Treanor and Walsh have now compiled a combined mark of 40-1 for two Olympic and four world championship events since forming their partnership in April 2001. In winning Beijing gold in two sets, the Americans have now won 47-straight sets since being extended to three sets in back-to-back matches earlier this season in Berlin. For the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games bronze medal, the fourth-seeded Xue and Zhang scored a 21-19 and 21-17 win in 39 minutes over sixth-seeded Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro of Brazil to secure a second Chinese spot on the podium as the host country was netting their first-ever Summer Games Beach Volleyball medals. With a men’s silver medal secured, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will try to become the second American team to top the Beijing Beach Volleyball podium Friday when the 2007 SWATCH FIVB world champions play Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes of Brazil, the 2005 SWATCH FIVB world champions. |
