The victory marked Walsh Jennings’ fourth Olympic medal, making her the oldest female medal victor in beach volleyball history and the fifth beach volleyball player to win medals with two different partners.
Advertisement
With three children, now ages 7, 6 and 3, she and her husband are “constantly sprinting”. Walsh Jennings dislocated her shoulder twice in the 2015 season and took time off to undergo surgery while Ross continued to play with other partners.
“It’s a bad feeling”, Walsh Jennings said, taking the blame for the loss by saying her failure to pass effectively put her partner in a bind.
Kerri Walsh Jennings turned 38 on Monday at just about the time she and April Ross finished their quarterfinal win over Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Louise Bawden in straight sets at Copacabana Beach.
“I don’t agree with that”, Ross said. But now it’s Agatha and Barbara’s time to shine, as they will attempt to take gold in the finals against Kira and Laura on August 17. Italy defeated Russian Federation in the other men’s semifinal to clinch its first Olympic beach volleyball medal.
After a 5-0 run through the tournament that saw them drop just a single set, the Americans finally met their match in an athletic and efficient Brazilian team that used every inch of the court to keep Walsh Jennings and Ross on their heels. Larissa took bronze at the 2012 Games. “We came here to be our best, and I was subpar”.
The Americans, meanwhile, will do what for Walsh Jennings was previously unthinkable, playing another Brazilian team for the bronze. Walsh Jennings had three consecutive gold medals and her partner, Ross, had won silver at London 2012.
All four teams will return to the beach on Wednesday for the final night of women’s beach volleyball. “We had some tough times, and now we’re in the final”.
“There was a storm coming and I thought let’s take this storm and make our own storm”, Ludwig said.
Advertisement
“I am so proud of my people, the Brazilian people”, Talita said.
