Medal talk with... Kerri Walsh Anybody who knows Kerri Walsh knows
that three Olympic gold medals won’t be enough. You’d think it might be. You’d think that with a family of four – husband Casey Jennings, also a pro beach volleyball player, and two young sons, Joey and Sundance – she might consider easing the throttle back. Or maybe even retiring. Don’t bet on it. Six days after she and Misty May-Treanor accomplished the improbable in London with an Olympic three-peat, Walsh was taking the court in Poland with a new partner, Nicole Branagh. People asked her the obvious question: “Why are you here?” Her answer: “It’s my job, and I love it, and I’m here to win.” That’s one constant. Wherever she
is, she’s there to win. Retired pro and three-time Olympian Holly McPeak, who won 72 career beach tournaments, says this: “Kerri is the most motivated person to win I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
And win she has – in abundance – since launching her pro beach career in 2001 after playing on the 2000 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team and, before that, winning two NCAA indoor volleyball titles at Stanford. Her career victory total currently sits at 109, sec- ond on the all-time women’s list behind May-Treanor, who has 112. All three gold medals were special, she says, but No. 3 was extra special because it was an extended family affair.
Most people would say it’s a big deal to drive from Southern California to Northern California with two young kids, but having a whole family along on a worldwide gold-medal quest? What’s that like?
It was such an amazing challenge, bigger than I ever thought it would be. Casey’s priority was for us to win a gold medal, and he stepped up in so many ways, and I can’t tell you how much pressure that took off me. It allowed me to go to work. … And then for Misty to embrace all of it – my sleep deprivation, how moody I was. And my sister (K.C. Walsh) helping us on the road. I think we did it with a lot of beauti- ful teamwork.
In the spring, you and Misty were struggling with some low finishes, and your coach, Marcio Sicoli, wasn’t always available to you due to personal matters. You brought in Liz Masakayan as a coach, but you weren’t getting the finishes you wanted.
We had really high hopes for this season, and we fell totally flat (at the beginning of the year). It wasn’t for lack of effort or for lack of being ready physically. We just didn’t want to lose, and I think we addressed our stress by adding more to our plate when, in the past,
By Don Patterson
Misty and I have always simplified. Liz is amazing, and we learned so much from her. But we had two coaches teaching us slightly different things, and in crunch time the little things get in your way. So Misty and I had to do a gut check after our China trip (in mid- May, when they finished ninth) and say, “How are we going to fix this and what’s making us uncomfortable?” It was really hard because
us better. It helped make the game seem slower (when we were at the Olympics) and made us more crisp.
Some people might think, “They knew what they were doing; they might not have been win- ning in the spring, but their plan was to turn it up at the right time to win the gold.”
(Laughs) No. There was doubt because we weren’t getting the finishes that we felt we were working hard enough for. But truly, we had a lot of mental work to do. We worked with Mike Gervais, our sports psychologist. He allowed us to get ourselves out of our own way and to embrace everything and to be very present. And Misty and I were playing volleyball like we had never played before – playing not to lose. And he gave us some things to focus on and we cleared the air of our fears.
What did you focus on? He asked us how we wanted to feel
out there at our best, and my word was “dominant.” And he said, “OK, how do you get yourself there?” And we broke it down. It was about me being con- nected to Misty and positive self-talk and preparation. So if there were things we were feeling shaky about, we’d go down the checklist. Above all, keep breathing. And go for it.
So you’re not satisfied to ride off into the sunset, right? You’re 34, but you probably have both eyes on Rio.
Yes. That being said, I’m so tired, and it doesn’t feel right to even think about that right now. I gave everything I had for this journey, and I need to make sure my heart and soul are in it and my family is behind me before I de- cide. Because I respect the game and respect the Olympics, and right now I need to replenish.
When will you decide? I usually get the itch after about a
it wasn’t Liz’s fault that we were playing like crap. She was adding new things to our tool kit, and instead of allowing it to enhance our game, we allowed it to take away what made us great.
Too much to think about? We weren’t playing instinctually. I just think we underestimated the mental juggling we’d have to do.
You turned things around, got your first win of the season (at Gstaad, Switzerland in early July) and then came back home and trained for two weeks before the Olympics against some very good men’s players, including Casey.
That was so huge for our confidence.
Marcio told them what other teams like to do against us, and they picked on us. They made
month off. But it requires so much, and I want to do it right. So I need to make sure I’m feel- ing it on every level.
Is the number 149 on your mind? What is 149?
That would be one ahead of Karch Kiraly on the all-time beach victory list.
I have a long way to go.
Well, you have 109. Sure, why not. I want to win. I want to get back to being dominant with my partner, and I know it will be possible, whoever I partner up with. I’ve been so blessed to have Misty by my side. (She pauses.) I’m going to cry. I really can’t imagine doing this without her, but that will make me better, too.
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PHOTO: MATT KRYGER /USA TODAY
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