In an interesting strategy, the Brazilians repeatedly targeted Walsh Jennings with serves early in the first. Rollins lead the US sweep of the 100-meter hurdles at the Rio Games on Wednesday night, winning with 12.48 seconds.
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“I’m combining what I’ve I always wanted to be, which is a working mom, a loving wife and a kick-butt athlete”, Walsh Jennings said. Germany’s Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst won the beach volleyball gold medal, handing the host nation its second straight medal-round setback on the Copacabana sand.
With their second win in six worldwide meetings with Talita and Larissa, Ross and Walsh Jennings joined gold medalists Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany and silver medalists Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas of Brazil on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games women’s Beach Volleyball podium.
“We were devastated the night before, literally devastated”, Walsh Jennings said. Walsh Jennings and Ross can still win a medal, as they’ll face Larissa and Talita for the bronze medal Wednesday night. Just like in Tuesday’s loss, they allowed their opponent to get five aces on them, only this time they hadn’t gotten any in return.
“It feels like a gold”, Walsh Jennings told reporters.
“I don’t agree with that”, Ross said.
The U.S. trailed by 10 points, 19-9, but after that the Americans were jolted awake.
Now it’s time for Walsh Jennings to pause again, this time to consider retirement. Their sweep that day had cast doubts about whether Walsh Jennings had enough to succeed in Rio after three consecutive gold medals with former partner Misty May-Treanor. “We’re a team”, she said, starting a thought but never finishing it before repeating, “We’re a team”. Walsh Jennings and Ross continued to gain momentum, taking the second set 21-17 for force a decisive third set. With her Olympics over, however, she will undoubtedly be asked about it at every turn, especially since the mother of three is 38 and has already established herself as a legend in the sport.
They relied on each other the entire season but perhaps no more than in the spotlight Wednesday.
“When you talk about beach volleyball, you talk about Kerri Walsh”, Brazilian blocker Talita said after the match.
“It’s unbelievable what 24 hours can do, what we are capable of doing, what the human spirit, the American spirit, is capable of doing”, Walsh Jennings told reporters. She fell short of winning a fourth straight gold medal that would have tied her with Lisa Leslie for the most by an American in a team sport.
“I am so proud of my people, the Brazilian people”, Talita said.
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She said if she decides to go for it in Tokyo, Ross will be her partner. “And if I’m going, we’re going to win a gold medal”.
