Walsh Jennings powered ahead at the net to take the the lead at 7-6 and the USA women continued their run to pull ahead by two points while the Brazilian women struggled to keep up.
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With the win, the Americans avoided a medal shutout in a sport it invented and – with Brazil – has dominated since beach volleyball was added to the Olympics in 1996. Walsh Jennings may keep going – she has hinted of an appearance four years from now in Tokyo – but Wednesday’s match could well be the final one for a signature Olympic athlete of the past 16 years.
During their 11-year run as partners, Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor won 21 consecutive Olympic matches and lost only one set, in 2012 to Austria.
In Rio, Walsh Jennings and Ross entered as the No. 3-ranked team and won their first five matches, dropping just one set in the process.
“We never had the mojo today, it was heartbreaking”, Walsh Jennings said. Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi each scored 19 points as the United States placed seven in double figures.
With scores of 22-20, 21-18-Walsh Jennings and Ross lost both sets to Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas.
Kerri Walsh Jennings was aiming for gold in Rio and it didn’t happen, but even making it to her fifth Olympics was a huge accomplishment. Ross kept her part of the bargain, especially during Tuesday’s match.
“The roles have been reversed before; I could have done a lot more”.
Walsh Jennings was better with her passing Wednesday night than she was in Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Agatha and Barbara, and she also tallied six successful blocks. “You have to pass the ball to win matches, and I don’t know how many aces per game they got on me and that’s just unacceptable and inexcusable”. “If I’m going with anyone, I’m going with her and I’m going for a gold medal”. In her Olympic debut at those Games, she finished fourth with the US women’s indoor volleyball team.
The packed stands on Copacabana beach roared after every Brazilian point, the crowd backing the last local shot at gold after Germany eliminated Brazil’s other team, Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes, in the other semi-final.
“I think it will take some time to realize what we did here”, Ludwig said.
“Finally we’re doing something good”, says Carmen Donat, who traveled from Sao Paulo to watch the game. She arrived in Rio with new partner April Ross (Misty May-Treanor, who won alongside Walsh the past three Olympics, retired) and ready to dominate once again. But to match the feat in Rio, the women will have to beat the defending world champions.
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Brazil has 13 Olympic with two silver medals guaranteed in 2016 in the men’s and women competition.
