- NĂ©e:
- Misty May
- Born:
- July 30, 1977, Los Angeles, California, U.S. (age 49)
- Awards And Honors:
- Olympic Games
Misty May-Treanor
-
Who is Misty May-Treanor?
Misty May-Treanor (born July 30, 1977) is an American beach volleyball player. With her partner, Kerri Walsh Jennings, she won Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
May-Treanor played indoor volleyball at California State University, Long Beach, leading her team to the 1998 NCAA title. She then played for the U.S. national indoor team at the Pan Am Games. She partnered with Holly McPeak at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, finishing fifth. In 2001, she formed her beach volleyball partnership with Kerri Walsh.
In 2016, May-Treanor was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
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What sport did Misty May-Treanor play?
Misty May-Treanor is an American beach volleyball player who, with her partner Kerri Walsh Jennings, won Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
May also played indoor volleyball at California State University, Long Beach, leading her team to the 1998 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title. She played for the U.S. national indoor team at the Pan Am Games. In 2001, May formed her beach volleyball partnership with Kerri Walsh. May-Treanor was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.
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What are some major accomplishments of Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball?
Misty May-Treanor, with her partner Kerri Walsh Jennings, achieved significant success in beach volleyball, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Together, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings won 90 straight matches and all eight tournaments in 2003, including the world championships. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, they became the first American female team to win gold in beach volleyball. In 2008, they continued their dominance at the Beijing Olympics, winning their 108th consecutive victory and 14th straight Olympics win. May-Treanor was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.
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Who was Misty May-Treanor's famous playing partner in many tournaments?
Misty May-Treanor's famous playing partner in many tournaments was Kerri Walsh Jennings. Together, they achieved remarkable success in beach volleyball, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Their partnership began in 2001, and they quickly rose to the top, holding the number one ranking in the world by 2002. In 2003, they set a record by winning 90 straight matches and all eight tournaments they entered, including the world championships. After May-Treanor's retirement in 2012, Walsh Jennings partnered with April Ross.
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How did Misty May-Treanor and her partner make history in the Olympics?
Misty May-Treanor, with her partner Kerri Walsh Jennings, made history by winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in beach volleyball in 2004, 2008, and 2012. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, they became the first American female team to win gold in beach volleyball. They continued their dominance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, defeating Wang Jie and Tian Jia of China, marking their 108th consecutive victory and 14th straight Olympic win without losing a set. May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings won a third straight Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
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How has Misty May-Treanor influenced the popularity of beach volleyball in the United States?
Misty May-Treanor, with partner Kerri Walsh Jennings, achieved unprecedented success in beach volleyball, securing Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Their dominance included a remarkable 90-match winning streak and multiple world titles, elevating the sport's visibility. May-Treanor's continued involvement in volleyball and media appearances further popularized the sport. Her partnership with Walsh Jennings is recognized for its significant contribution to beach volleyball's appeal and growth in the U.S.
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Misty May-Treanor (born July 30, 1977, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) is an American beach volleyball player who, with her partner, Kerri Walsh Jennings, won Olympic gold medals in the event in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
May grew up in California and played indoor volleyball at California State University, Long Beach, where she led her team to the 1998 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title in her senior year. She then played for the U.S. national indoor team at the Pan Am Games, after which she decided to try her hand at beach volleyball instead. She teamed with Holly McPeak at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, finishing fifth after losing in the quarterfinals.
In 2001 May formed her beach volleyball partnership with Kerri Walsh, who had competed in indoor volleyball at the Sydney Olympics. They finished with the number five ranking in the world before reaching number one in 2002. They got even better in 2003, winning a then-record 90 straight matches and all eight tournaments in which they played, including the world championships, where they upset the defending Brazilian champions in the final. That success carried over to the 2004 Athens Olympics, in which they became the first American female tandem to win gold in beach volleyball. Following the Athens Games, they captured two more world titles, in 2005 and 2007. Meanwhile, in November 2004 May wed Major League Baseball player Matt Treanor, and in December 2005 Walsh married volleyball player Casey Jennings.
In 2008 May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings competed in the Beijing Olympics. In the final match on August 21, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings ignored a steady downpour and drenched bathing suits to beat Wang Jie and Tian Jia of China 21â18, 21â18 to continue their four-year reign over womenâs beach volleyball. The match was the pairâs 108th consecutive victory and their 14th straight Olympics win (they did not lose a set either in Beijing or in Athens at the 2004 Olympics).
In their first post-Olympic tournament, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings extended their winning streak to 112 matches, but it came to an end on August 31 with a 21â19, 10â21, 25â23 loss to Olympic teammates Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh in the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Crocs Cup Shootout in Mason, Ohio. The defeat also ended the pairâs streak of 19 straight titlesâquite an accomplishment for a team that had started playing together only in 2001.
After the Beijing Olympics May-Treanor competed on the television show Dancing with the Stars. An injury she incurred while rehearsing, however, required surgery on her Achilles tendon. She subsequently returned to beach volleyball, and at the 2012 London Olympics May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings won a third straight Olympic gold medal. May-Treanor subsequently retired from competitive play. She remained involved in the sport, however, and from 2016 to 2020 she served as director of volleyball operations at Long Beach City College.
May-Treanor was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016. Her memoir, Misty: Digging Deep in Volleyball and Life (written with Jill Lieber Steeg), was published in 2010.
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