I know a lot of women look for motivation to lose the weight after they deliver their baby, and Walsh is no different. She is going to try and get back in shape to re-team with Treanor so they can compete in the 2012 Olympics together. (And I thought Jlo was ambitious for trying to do a marathon so soon after delivering twins!)

Image: Zuma Press

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Kerri Walsh is Pregnant

Kerri Walsh (pictured at left), half of the two-time Gold Medal-winning beach volleyball duo of Walsh and Misty May-Traenor, announced this week that she and husband, Casey Jennings are expecting their first child in the spring. What’s more: she told “Access Hollywood” radio host, Billy Bush that the baby was conceived in China, right after the Gold Medal match.

Walsh and May-Traenor both indicated in post match interviews that they wanted to take some time off from beach volleyball to start families. Walsh certainly wasted no time with her plans.

Walsh and May-Traenor are the first duo to win back-to-back Olympic Gold Medals in beach volleyball. They also won Gold in the 2004 Athens Games.

We wish Walsh and Jennings all the best with their new addition.

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Kerri Walsh Announces she’s Pregnant

It was bound to happen sometime, but the Gold Medal beach volleyball duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh finally lost a match, breaking their 112 match winning streak. They fell to Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh in the finals of the AVP Crocs Shootout in Mason, Ohio on Sunday, 21-19, 10-21, 25-23. The last time they lost a match was on August 19, 2007, also to Youngs and Branagh.

May and Walsh won the Gold Medal in women’s beach volleyball in Beijing earlier in August, their second consecutive Gold Medal.

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May, Walsh Lose First Match in More than a Year

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Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh on Letterman

The crowds have gone home; the athletes, journalists, and dignataries have boarded flights for cities all over the world; the scores of volunteers have turned the Bird’s Nest back into an empty stadium; and the torch has been handed over to the British. In other words, the Games of the XXIX Olympiad are now history. It’s time to get some sleep.

International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogges said on Sunday that his favorite Olympic moment was that of Matthew Emmons, the American shooting contender who blew a chance at the Gold Medal in Athens by shooting the wrong target in the last round, who repeated that farce in the Beijing Games with a similar failure, and who remained calm and philosophical about both events.

What do I take away from the Beijing Games? I’m struck by the heros and the not-so heroes. It’s always the side stories that intrigue me. I will remember:

1. Michael Phelps, of course, for his historic eight medals, but also for his humility and graciousness in his victories.
2. Usain Bolt for his amazing athletic ability, but also for his playfulness at an Olympic Games that sometimes took itself a little seriously. I also applaud him for his generosity towards the host nation, a story that never quite made it to the front page.
3. Natalie du Toit’s determination and courage (and nonchalance when interviewed about it) in being the first woman amputee to participate in the Olympic Games. (We’ll see her again at the Paralympics, which begin September 6.)
4. Those who sailed through the Games undefeated: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh; the US men’s basketball team; and the Chinese synchronized divers
5. Those that almost achieved Gold: the US softball team and the Chinese men in the 10m platform event
6. And, I guess finally, the chance to see inside of China and at least a little bit about the people who live there. Say what you will about the government, the citizens of Beijing came out to see and cheer for athletes of all nations…and the city put on quite a show.

What was your favorite moment of the Beijing Olympics? Leave a comment below and tell us about it or vote in the poll at right. (If your favorite moment isn’t listed, you can add an answer.)

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My Favorite Beijing Olympic Moments

The unbeatable team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh continued their reign as the world’s best beach volleyball duo, beating the Chinese pair of Wang Jie and Tian Jia in straight sets Wednesday to win the Gold Medal. They are the first pair to win two Gold Medals in Beach Volleyball and the first to go undefeated in two Olympic competitions.

In the sometimes pouring rain, the Chinese did make the match interesting. They were one of the few teams to challenge May/Walsh in the tournament, even leading the Americans for a few points.

Earlier in the day, China’s Xue Chen and Zhang Xi best the Brazilian team of Talita Antones and Renata Ribeiro to win the Bronze Medal.

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May, Walsh Win Second Beach Volleyball Gold

Kerri Walsh of the United States and her beach volleyball partner, Misty May-Treanor are off to a good start in defending their 2004 Gold Medal. They won in straight sets against Japan on August 10 and Cuba on August 12.

However, all was not well after the match with Japan when Walsh discovered that her wedding ring had flown off of her finger during play. Twenty Olympic volunteers combed the more than 17,000 tons of sand with rakes and used metal detecters to locate the ring. After about 20 minutes, volunteer Song Zhendong found the ring and was rewarded by Walsh with a packet of rings and a signed visor.

Walsh is married to former NCAA beach volleyball champion, Casey Jennings.

It’s a happy ending to the story, but why would you wear your wedding ring while playing beach volleyball?

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Kerri Walsh and the Wedding Ring “Malfunction”

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Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh