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.
Advertisement
Brazil achieved what many thought couldn’t happen: dominating the United States in straight sets, 22-20 and 21-18.
Earlier on, Walsh Jennings and Ross came from a set down to clinch the bronze. The Americans clawed their way back quickly, though, and once again the match settled into its rhythm of points being traded, neither team able to separate from its opponent by more than a point or two.
These were the first Olympic Games that Walsh Jennings teamed up with Ross.
If it was any consolation, Walsh Jennings can say her streak ended in one of the most attractive settings on earth in a memorable event for her sport. They will, however, battle for bronze against top-seeded Brazilians Larissa and Talita.
Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross formed their partnership just moments after the London Gold Medal Match. We’re proud of the way Walsh Jennings is handling her disappointment in not receiving her fourth gold medal, and we’ll be rooting for Walsh Jennings and Ross tonight. The loss she and her partner suffered at the hands of Brazilians Agatha and Barbara was in many ways self-inflicted.
“I am a blessed woman”, Walsh Jennings said. Counterpart Talita was suddenly the one looking out of sorts at net, unsure what to do after several massive blocks by Walsh Jennings.
“I know that we’re better than that”, Ross said. She then turned a corner, put a towel around her waist, and walked alone, towards a very unfamiliar feeling: playing for bronze, which she does on Wednesday.
It’s no surprise to see defending champions China contest the gold medal match against Japan while South Korea and Germany go head-to-head for the bronze.
In a video uploaded by NBC Olympics, Walsh Jennings said she was born to do two things: have babies and play volleyball.
“I’ve been working this whole year to try and be a morning person and it’s so hard”, she said. With May-Treanor retiring, Kerri needed a partner and ended up teaming with Ross shortly after the Olympics were over.
Walsh Jennings and Ross, ranked third, got over it quickly. That’s what set the tone.
Anxious that their Olympic fortunes would not pan out, Walsh Jennings told Ross to find another partner.
Kerri Walsh Jennings doesn’t know anything but winning gold medals.
Since April, the pair also won tournaments everywhere from China to Cincinnati and Russian Federation to Huntington Beach.
Advertisement
They rolled through the competition in Rio until Tuesday night, when the pair lost to the Brazilian duo of Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas.
