Kerri Walsh and Misty May of the United States led from start to finish in a 21-17, 21-11 victory over Brazilians Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede in the women’s beach volleyball final yesterday.
Walsh and May, the world champions and winners of 13 gold medals on the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Tour in the last three seasons, added the Olympic gold to their list of honors.
Behar and Bede closed to within two points at 19-17 in the opening set, but May answered with a ball down the line for set point, which the Americans converted on the next rally.
The US duo led by 12-9 and by 14-10 in the second, at which point they scored five unanswered points as they put the match out of the Brazilians’ reach. It marked the second straight Games that the Brazilians had to settle for silver. In Sydney, they lost the championship match to Australia.
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In the bronze medal match, Sydney gold medallist Natalie Cook and teammate Nicole Sanderson battled valiantly but Americans Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs emerged with the 21-18, 15-21, 15-9 victory.
After dropping the first set, Cook and Sanderson led the second at 16-13 when Cook fell hard and called a medical timeout.
She had her injured shoulder re-bandaged and the Aussies went on to claim the set.
But Cook was clearly in pain in the tie-break set. She was serving underhand by the end, giving Youngs a chance to attack on the final point that sealed the win.