There is no debate when asking who the world’s best female beach volleyball player is.

The 194 cm tall Kerri Walsh has only played seven seasons in the sand, but has a fantastic track record: Together with her partner Misty May-Treanor, she has exclusive rights to the championship gold medal since WC 2003:

Both won world titles from Rio in ’03, Berlin in ’05 and Gstaad in ’07 – and are the reigning Olympic champions from Athens.

There is also no indication that Walsh and May have experienced a decline in performance.

Cleaning the table

In last year’s season, they won a total of twenty tournaments, split between the World Series and domestic professional series – a number no other team can match.

This year they swept the world series tournaments they competed in: Victories in Berlin, Paris and Stavanger.

Sports family

Kerri Walsh comes from a sporting family, father Tim played baseball while mother Margie was an accomplished volleyball player. The brothers also made a name for themselves in basketball and volleyball at the university level.

But Kerri has truly reached higher than them all. She began her career indoors, and was part of the American team that finished fourth at the Sydney Olympics.

But things exploded when he chose beach volleyball with Misty May-Treanor. In the pair’s first full season in the American Pro League, 2003, they won all 38 games they played!

Walsh is also married to beach volleyball player Casey Jennings, who failed to qualify for Beijing. Along with creator Matt Fuerbringer, he should look at the two American teams ahead of him in the rankings.

The perfect couple

Misty May-Treanor is the perfect partner for the tall, blocking Walsh. He has been named the world’s best defender several times.

It’s hard to see who will beat this American team if they remain injury-free until Beijing.

Walsh and May-Treanor have met Håkedal/Tørlen five times, and won them all.