Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-21 14:21:46

Misty May-Treanor (L) spikes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(BEIJING, August 21) — Today the American duo of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor proved that they are the best team ever in the history of the fledgling Olympic sport. By beating China’s Wang Jie and Tian Jia in the final of the Women’s Beach Volleyball competition, Walsh and May-Treanor won their second gold medal and remained undefeated in Olympic competition.

It is anticipation and speed which set Walsh and May-Treanor apart. They are always thinking one step ahead, which allows them to save more points than most. There was one piece of play today when the hulking Wang jumped up and prepared to fire her fist into the ball, but the 188cm-tall Walsh had already turned around and was motoring towards the back of the court.

For a woman of her height, Walsh is incredibly fast. And she complements her speed by having a great spike and block. May-Treanor, on the other hand, is the quiet achiever. She cruises around the court with murderous efficiency, using Walsh to carry out hits on the opposition. With their tattoos and wild eyes, Walsh and May-Treanor are the rock ‘n’ roll couple of Olympic sport.

Wang Jie/Tian Jia, Kerri Walsh/Misty May-Treanor and Xue Chen/ZhangXi.(Photo credit: Getty Images)

This of course, couldn’t be more different from their opponents today. China seems to abound with tall women who can whack balls at high speeds, but their ball play is not always creative.

Some of Tian’s serves today were so hard and flat that even May-Treanor could do nothing but let the ball thud into her forearm. Despite their impressive serves, Tian and Wang couldnot prevent Walsh and May-Treanor from outplaying them at the end of each set.

China has improved a lot at Beach Volleyball, but its teams still lack the vim that Walsh and May-Treanor so clearly possess.

However, the silver and bronze medals that China won today are the country’s first in Olympic Beach Volleyball – a sure sign that there are now three spokes in the wheel of the women’s competition. Following the loss of Brazil’s Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha in today’s bronze medal match against China’s Zhang Xi and Xue Chen, Brazil is without a medal in Women’s Beach Volleyball for the first time since the sport was introduced to the Olympics at Atlanta 1996. However, this should not be seen as a sign of Brazil’s imminent demise, but a sign that China has arrived as a serious player.

It is still unclear whether Walsh and May-Treanor intend to compete at London 2012. If they can maintain their high levels of speed and anticipation, then they have a strong chance of winning a third gold medal. As they have proven in Beijing, the gap between them and the rest of the field is as wide as ever.

Updated: 2008-08-21 12:34:36

(L-R) Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor celebrate their victory. (Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 21) — Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States won the gold medal in the Olympic Women’s Beach Volleyball competition by beating Tian Jia and Wang Jie of China in straight sets, 21-18, 21-18.

Despite facing stern competition from the Chinese team in the first set, the US duo won four out of the last five points to win the first set 21-18.

The US team won the first three points of the second set, but a mistake by the American duo allowedthe Chinese teamback into the match. A pair of aces by the hard-serving veteran of the Chinese team, Tian Jia, gave her and Wang a 9-8 lead.

With heavy rain causing the ball to be extremely slippery, the Chinese team tried hard to defeat the US pair, which are yet to lose a match in Olympic competition. However, both May-Treanor and Walsh were able to quickly anticipate Tian and Wang’s offensive moves, while Walsh scored many points through blistering smashes. The US pair wrapped up the match by winning the second set 21-18.

Tian and Wang’s silver medal is only the second Olympic medal that China has won in Beach Volleyball, following on from the bronze medal won by Zhang Xi and Xue Chen in the preceding match. Zhang and Xue beat Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha of Brazil in straight sets to win the bronze medal.

Updated: 2008-08-21 12:27:59

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor pose with their gold medals. (Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States captured the Beijing Olympic Beach Volleyball gold medal on Thursday.

The US pair defeated China’s Tian Jia and Wang Jie 21-18 and 21-18.

In an earlier match, China’s Zhang Xi and Xue Chen captured the bronze medal, defeating Brazilian pair Talita Antunes/Renata Ribeiro in straight sets.

Wang Jie and Tian Jia, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor and Xue Chen and Zhang Xi. (Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Misty May-Treanor (L) of US spikes. (Photo credit: Sadat/Xinhua)
Tian Jia of China saves the ball. (Photo credit: Sadat/Xinhua)
(L-R) Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor celebrate their victory. (Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Updated: 2008-08-21 11:47:49

(BEIJING, August 21) — Defending champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States won the gold medal in the Olympic Women’s Beach Volleyball competition by beating Tian Jia and Wang Jie of China in straight set, 21-18, 21-18.

In the bronze medal match held earlier, Zhang Xi and Xue Chen of China beat Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha of Brazil 2-0 and won the bronze medal.

Updated: 2008-08-21 10:45:47

Zhang Xi and Xue Chen go after the ball. (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Zhang Xi and Xue Chen of China beat Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha of Brazil in the Women’s Beach Volleyball bronze medal match. Xue Chen and Zhang Xi won the match 2-0.

Zhang Xi goes after the ball. (Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Xue Chen sends a shot to Talita Rocha and Renata Ribeiro. (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Talita Rocha serves to Xue Chen and Zhang Xi. (Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Xue Chen (L) and Zhang Xi of China celebrate victory. (Photo credit: Sadat/Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-08-21 10:19:24

Xue Chen sends a shot to Talita Rocha and Renata Ribeiro. (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 21) — Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China won their country’s first medal in Beach Volleyball by defeating Brazilian duo Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha 21-19, 21-17 in 39 minutes to win a bronze medal.

The Chinese duo were the fourth seed in the Women’s Beach Volleyball competition, while the Brazilian pair were the sixth seed.

The first set was an even match, with the score being level on 15 occasions. Each team had 19 points apiece after Zhang’s serve went out of bounds. The Chinese pair went on to win the match, with the Brazilian duo giving away set point with a wild attempt at a smash. The final score of the first set was 21-19.

The Chinese tandem gradually built a lead in the second set with strong attacking play, especially from Zhang. An ace by Xue widened the lead to 15-9. Another errant serve by Zhang allowed the Brazilians to regain serve and launch a comeback, but the Chinese pair were too strong. Xue and Zhang maintained their lead and ran out winners with a final score of 21-17. A clever drop shot by Zhang secured match point and China’s first Olympic medal in the sport.

The gold medal match will be between another Chinese pair, top-seeded Tian Jia and Wang Jie and US duo Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, the gold medalist at Athens 2004. The match starts at 11 a.m local time (UTC/GMT 8).

Zhang Xi and Xue Chen go after the ball. (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Updated: 2008-08-20 22:01:35

Fabio Magalhaes (L) and Marcio Araujo celebrate their win. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 20) — Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes of Brazil will meet Todd Rogers and Philip Dalhausser of the United States in the Men’s Beach Volleyball Gold medal match after winning their semifinal matches at Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground on Wednesday.

Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes beat compatriots Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego 2-0 (22-20, 21-18). Previously undefeated Santos and Rego had no answers to direct at compatriots Araujo and Magalhaes through the beginning of the match and the No. 4 seeds took a 10-5 lead. Araujo and Magalhaes edged their way to set point, only for Santos to save. Magalhaes won another and this time Santos fired out to secure the set 22-20.

US pair Philip Dalhausser (R) and Todd Rogers. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Santos and Rego had produced a remarkable comeback against Russia in the Round of 16, but a comeback against their fellow Brazilians never materialized. Magalhaes earned match point at 20-18 when a Santos block went out. Another Santos error sealed victory.

Todd Rogers and Philip Dalhausser beat Renato Gomes and Jorge Terceiro of Georgia 2-0 (21-11, 21-13). World champions, Rogers and Dalhausser made easy work of Gomes and Terceiro, taking just 42 minutes to wrap up their semifinal. Gomes and Terceiro took the lead in the first set but the American pair turned it around and were soon 11-2 ahead.

Georgia only offered glimpses of the form that propelled them to the semifinals, with Gomes executing some clever cut shots. Dalhausser clinched both sets as the American duo progressed to the final in their first Olympic Games.