When we needed points from my serve, I really had to go for my serve.
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Bronze medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings (L) and April Ross (R) pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for women’s beach volleyball at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Walsh Jennings and partner April Ross were relegated to the third-place game by Brazil’s reigning world champions, who beat the Americans in straight sets on Tuesday night to advance to a gold medal matchup with Germany. The second-seeded Agatha and Barbara defeated Ross and Walsh Jennings 2-0 (22-20, 21-18) in the mid-night semi-final match. Unfortunately, all they have to do is win the bronze medal game against the top-seeded Brazilian duo of Larissa and Talita, who were upset by Germany.
Brazil’s loss leaves the home country with two beach volleyball medals on home sand.
Asked if she can come back for another try at a gold medal, Walsh Jennings said, “I know I can”.
After hugging their opponents, Walsh Jennings slapped hands with some courtside volunteers and then found a USA cheering section in the corner of the 12,000-seat arena built on the beach that serves as the sport’s spiritual home. “I don’t even know how many aces they got”.
When the Brazilians weren’t excelling on defense, they were dissecting the United States’ resistance. At age 38, Walsh Jennings had to know this day was coming at some point.
Thanks for joining us here – we’ll be back with live commentary of the gold medal match which starts at 23.59.
When Talita and Larissa cruised to a 21-17 victory in the first set Wednesday, the Americans clamped down.
She then causes mayhem with a serve.
The two American veteran beach volleyball players worked together to win this prestigious bronze medal.
Walsh Jennings was trying to become the first four-time gold medalist in the sport.
“We needed that so bad”, says Bernard Deixeira, a businessman from northern Brazil, after watching Seixas and Bednarczuk clinch the match from the stands.
“The crowd was great”, Walsh Jennings said. “We never got our mojo after that and that is why”. Last summer, she competed with Ross in tournaments with an injured shoulder, she played with “one arm”, she has said.
“I don’t agree with that”, Ross said.
“It was a highly energized crowd cheering for their team”, Ross said.
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It means Walsh Jennings has three Olympic golds and one bronze. “They were just sharper”. Walsh Jennings and Ross will go on to play for the bronze but the heartbreak of last night’s outcome was evident. Unable to sleep. Cursing and crying and blaming herself after she fell short of her goal of winning a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
